Fata Morgana: The Curse of a Digital Age


Each day, as I view headlines and scan articles; as I enter the world of X and look at different platforms,  I am setting sail into the Strait of Messina.  

Fata Morgana awaits me.  And there are parallels which can be drawn regarding which conditions create this mirage and how these magically-natural optical illusions effect the naked eye.

"A Fata Morgana may be described as a very complex superior mirage with more than three distorted erect and inverted images."

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fata_Morgana_(mirage)

So as I view videos and read things each day, my prayer is for discernment.  This is especially needed, because as a Christian I am aware that I am in violation of scripture:

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any praise, think on these things."  Philippians 4:8

But the journalist is not in the garden.  It is the job of the journalist to trek into the jungle of digital information and hope to make it out in sane manner with a logical and reasonable thought to present to the readership.

With years of experience under my belt, my confidence is fairly high that as I enter the Strait of Messina each day I will pay scant attention to Fata Morgana.  

"Who... what... when... where... why... and why now" are the tools of the trade.  These are the small reminders which anchor journalism.   Prior - I leaned on "Why now?" as my most important question.  But as of late,  I believe the most important question is,  "Who benefits?"   Who benefits from the narrative which I am reading?   And as ethical journalism continues to be eroded by malignant forces made capable in a digital age, it is my hope that each one of you will learn to navigate the Strait of Messina coming out on the other side, wiser for your passage.

With love,

Tammy Swofford


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