Dr. Michael Niman of BSC co-sponsored McChesney's presence with Jim Kling of NU. Niman said that McChesney is the “King (as in Elvis) of Media Analysts.”

McChesney's speech was mostly on how the media does not give out much information to the public, and actually sometimes when the information is given, it's all lies. People have come to expect that from tabloids of the stars, like E! and the National Enquirer. But lies from local and national newspapers and television broadcasts, as well to some it's just unheard of. Or is it?

Two people who McChesney mentioned were two reporters from The New York Times : Jayson Blair and Judith Miller .

The New York Times is a respected newspaper by some standards, but when two of their reporters were caught lying to the public, it posed a problem. (There were other reporters who came under fire from the Times: Jay Blotcher and Rick Bragg to name a few.)

Blair made up names, dates and sources. He was fired from the New York Times and cannot ever get a job in journalism again.

Miller found fascinating information and facts about the War in Iraq, but no other newspaper was able to confirm her findings.

One question goes through many people's minds. Why do they lie? What motivates a journalist or a broadcaster to feed the public lies and deceit?

It has even happened just recently in the past couple of months. Remember Jessica Lynch? Yet another Times reporter, Rick Bragg, with a lie to sell.

Should the public trust the media, wholeheartedly like many have in the past? Or should the public just treat news like many of the tabloids are treated? Has journalism sunk to a different level? What kind of world do we live in?

Is George Orwell's book, “1984,” a lot closer to home than we actually are aware of, with the issue of “Big Brother's Always Watching”?

The only one to answer these questions of trust and belief is the individual themselves. The answer will be different for everyone.

Email: Shiele95@mail.buffalostate.edu