Podcast: Critically Thinking about the News with Mosheh Oinounou Pt. 1

Brave Writer Podcast

We’ve been discussing the importance of critical thinking lately, and today’s guest on the Brave Writer podcast is a perfect example of why it’s so important—and also incredibly difficult.

I’m speaking with Mosheh Oinounou, a journalist who has risen to fame on Instagram for his neutral:

  • approach to the news,
  • digging into headlines,
  • and discussing social issues.

On top of that, he is a fabulous conversationalist, which shines through in this interview. He focuses on verified headlines and is interested in facts above all else.

Show Notes

The confirmation bias trap

Mosheh’s news-neutral platform welcomes a variety of opinions and is a place for people to learn from each other and recognize where we each come from. We have historic levels of access to information, but it’s through filtering all of that information that we see biases come up. And yes, the truth is that everyone has biases. There are so many elements of your upbringing that shape who you are and how you see the world. Because of this, nobody is truly unbiased. Simply being an American shapes your worldview in a way that is remarkably different from people in other countries.

To Mosheh, what makes something newsworthy is determined by relevancy, interest, and whether or not it impacts people’s lives. It’s through that lens that he filters information and tries to present things in a neutral manner.

How we are reclaiming diversity of opinion through social media

Social media was not designed as a tool for news delivery—and yet it’s the primary way most of us are informed, whether we like it or not. “The algorithm” you may have heard so much about just means that the goal of Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and the like is to keep you on the platform as long as possible—which inherently skews the kinds of news that gets shared and seen by more people to be more inflammatory and sensationalist. They know you will spend more time on that platform if you are mad than if you were happy.

Investigating our biases

We all live busy lives, which can make it hard to vet and verify sources on our own. But in a world where mainstream media is losing trust, why are so many people quick to trust a random website they’ve never heard of before? It may come down to confirmation bias: the innate desire to find—and believe—information that confirms and lines up with our current worldview. So how do we combat that?

One metric is to be aware of when a news article makes you happy. If you feel a slight sense of smugness when reading that headline, that’s a sign you may be experiencing confirmation bias and it’s time to double-check and verify your sources.

If you’re looking for tools and support in raising kids in a media-saturated environment, consider reading Raising Critical Thinkers. It is designed to raise kids who are mindful and know how to vet their own sources and think for themselves. In the world we live in today, I can hardly think of anything more important than that.

Listen to Part Two.

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