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The traditional TV news media has been having a rough time in the last few years. According to a recent survey, more Americans have a negative (43%) than a positive (33%) view of the mass media, and are finding it harder to be well informed because it is getting harder to determine which news is accurate.

So what is media's biggest problem? It's bigotry. While ideally all types of media should be objective and hold power to account, in reality, we know that most news outlets are partisan and have their agenda to advance. Whether state-owned or run by some shady tax-avoiding billionaire, getting 'the masses' to view the world from a certain perspective has always been a priceless power to wield.

So why is trust in the media so low? Well, according to the same survey, 8 out of 10 Americans believe that the news media are critical to their democracy. The gap between these lofty expectations of an honest, objective media and the performance that they deliver is large. Times, when the mask slips and examples of media manipulation are exposed, is hugely damaging to trust (don't even get me started on the 2003 Iraq war), and people naturally turn to social media for other, even-easier-to-manipulate sources. Thus we are in the current state in which we find ourselves: confused, mistrustful and divided.

People have been posting examples of fake news and how media can use different techniques of deception, to trick you into seeing exactly what they wanted you to see. As you will discover, perspective is everything! It all goes to show that a healthy dose of skepticism goes a long way, and getting your news from a wide range of different sources is your best bet to a more rounded view of the world we live in. Social media is good in that respect, but bad regarding regulation, trolling and people shouting horrible things at each other. The good old traditional news media is needed as a forum for rational debate and expert opinion, but they must stop with the manipulation already! Scroll down to check out the cheeky photo manipulations in action for yourself, and let us know what you think in the comments!

#1

Photo Taken When Kate Middleton And Prince William Presented Third Royal Baby To The World

Photo Taken When Kate Middleton And Prince William Presented Third Royal Baby To The World

Reuters/ Hannah Mckay Report

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sanchit-mit2006 avatar
Ladies and Gentlemen
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't know if its odd, but i show number 3 by pinching the pinky finger down to thumb, not this way!

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#3

U.s. Marines From The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit Help An Iraqi Soldier With Water From A Canteen In Southern Iraq, March 21, 2003

U.s. Marines From The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit Help An Iraqi Soldier With Water From A Canteen In Southern Iraq, March 21, 2003

AP Report

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snowylynx11 avatar
skylocks20 avatar
kristynlnu avatar
K. LNU
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This photo was seen all over. Some only showed the picture on the left, others the picture on the right. The center picture shows the whole "story." And if you notice, the gun is pointed in the general direction, but not "pressed" to the soldier's head. The original post (of the center photo: U.S. Marines from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit help an Iraqi soldier with water from a canteen in southern Iraq, on Friday, March 21, 2003. Some 200 Iraqi soldiers surrendered to the U.S. 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit just after an hour after it crossed the border into Iraq from northern Kuwait.

jeffnme avatar
Jeff NME
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hate to break it you guys, but the USA was busily invading Iraq to oust Saddam Hussein from March 20th, 2003. This man is obviously a PoW, so is being held at gunpoint while being given some water. Do you people have such a short memories that you have completely forgetten recent history?

wes_1 avatar
Mont
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Clearly a display of compassion combined with the necessary caution of war.

tinoka avatar
Toufic Khairallah
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

still, an iraqi held prisonner in his country by a foreign occupation force..

dariab_1 avatar
Daria B
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Tricky indeed. But the observers would notice the guy on the left has his hand on his lap, the gun is just hanging.

jolynnk85 avatar
Just JoLynn
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The guy with his hands in his lap is not the one holding the gun, you can see a hand on the gun.

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pattiekelly54 avatar
Pattie Kelly
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

gun not pointed at head. the soldier on the left is giving the water and the soldier on the left is sitting next to the Iraq soldier with the marine's hand on his own leg and there is a 3rd soldier next to the soldier on the left sitting HIS gun is in his hands. And it looks like it's pointed at the Iraqi soldier's head.

romina_poblete avatar
Romina Poblete
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

in the original picture the weapon is also in his head, it does not change anything

susanna-alsaeedi avatar
Susanna Vesna
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cut to the US military raping men in a prison in Iraq! Yeah, yeah! F*****s still invaded and meddled in countries where they dont belong!

ravensgirl62 avatar
Wendy J Shores
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The media is 99% of the problem with racism and hate in this country too...

shadow_blackeagle avatar
Marty BlackEagle-Carl
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Dont always blame the media for how some troll manipulates the pictures... just be careful

comerfordsamantha46 avatar
Samantha Comerford
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To beat the c**p out of him afterwards . Waterboard or hmm kill later . Remeber peep No weapons of mass. Distinction ! Their you go TrumptheDump that’s your fake news !

yalda_visa avatar
Yalda Visa
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They‘re still holding a gun to his head 🤦🏻‍♀️

ann_m_rosa avatar
Amazon QT
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually if you look at the center photo, he’s not holding it to his head, it’s just hanging off the soldier to the left. Cause if he were to shot the guy, the sound from it firing would damage the soldiers ear that’s next to the gun barrel.

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Jo Choto
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh for pity's sake. The Iraqi soldiers are allies. Sheesh!

h_roon avatar
H. von Roon
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Help me out here folks. I'm still seeing an auto rifle pointed at his forehead so.....yes they're giving him water, butttt ummm....?

h_roon avatar
H. von Roon
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There is a hand, from someone not fully pictured, on the barrel of that rifle.

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kjorn avatar
Kjorn
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

never trust the media… Always questionnate what you see! Always!

r3dd3v1ll avatar
r3dd3v1lL
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ah yes, I've seen that one before. It should be thought in schools. The influence that media can use on public opinion is scary. At least these days you can fact- check on the internet, but still not many people do.

bronmargaret avatar
audwey avatar
Aud Wey
Community Member
5 years ago

WOW. But to be honest, I didn't get the one with the pig ..

jeffnme avatar
Jeff NME
Community Member
5 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

diane1atk avatar
diane a
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The First Casualty of War is Truth - never has such a comment made so much sense

agirlwithabird avatar
K w
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One dude gives him water while the other dude points/rests his gun on his head....

ann_m_rosa avatar
Amazon QT
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The gun barrel isn’t touching the Iraqi soldiers head, it’s not even near his head.

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#4

Presidential Inauguration Of Donald Trump

Presidential Inauguration Of Donald Trump

Indi_Comments Report

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ruthbh avatar
Ruth Hempsey
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5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He's waving at the camera and reporters because there aren't any other people except security.

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#5

Hillary Rally In Omaha

Hillary Rally In Omaha

abbydphillip Report

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luckymama2412 avatar
Elle Campbell
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's more than 50 people. And it's still more than the "Yuge crowds" of legitimate(unpaid) tRump supporters that show up for his rallies.

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#7

Conservative Leader Theresa May Launches The Party's Campaign Bus In Northumberland

Conservative Leader Theresa May Launches The Party's Campaign Bus In Northumberland

Stefan Rousseau/PA Archive/PA Images Report

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diz_1 avatar
Laugh Fan
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Think I'm going to assume this is done for most of these types of events!

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#8

Photographer Ruben Salvadori Covered The Conflict Between Israeli Soldiers And Palestinian Youths. The Picture Above Was Staged In Cooperation With A Young Palestinian

Photographer Ruben Salvadori Covered The Conflict Between Israeli Soldiers And Palestinian Youths. The Picture Above Was Staged In Cooperation With A Young Palestinian

Ruben Salvadori Report

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kjorn avatar
Kjorn
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

never trust BOTH sides… Israeli and palestinian use disinformation.

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#9

Pro-Immigration Protest

Pro-Immigration Protest

TrumpOrTreason Report

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paul_oconnor avatar
Paul O'Connor
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because it was demonstration ILLUSTRATING child detention, not purporting to actually show it. Hence the kids in the cages are holding protest signs. Someone took it and made a meme, which is why THAT photo is on a page talking about how pictures can lie. But yeah, kids were still put behind bars for real elsewhere.

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#10

Tax Protest In Paris

Tax Protest In Paris

civsnet Report

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buckobell01 avatar
VoxyMan
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Many of these examples are what photographers are SUPPOSED to do, it's not fake news.

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#11

Hillary Clinton Event In Ohio

Hillary Clinton Event In Ohio

edhenry Report