Michael Ogden

Executive Editor

Anyone noticing that their Facebook feed is being incredibly slow and glitchy lately? I have, and I have a theory, or as some like to call “alternative facts” of what's going on: Facebook Live video is clogging the platform.

I have no proof of this yet, but I'm doing my best to find alternative facts to support my theory. Forget science or math or whether the data shows that the platform has not slowed down due to users live streaming their kid's volleyball game or showing me how to make a tasty veggie lasagna – I need to prove my point that Facebook is slower due to an overload of Facebook Live posts.

To give you some perspective, I started writing out ideas for this column on a dreary Wisconsin winter morning using my laptop with my coffee and dog nearby. Then I heard these words come from Kellyanne Conway, counselor to the president, during an interview with NBC's host of “Meet the Press,” Chuck Todd, after a question to clarify factually incorrect statements made about the size of the crowd at the inauguration by President Trump's press secretary, Sean Spicer. Spicer said that this was “the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration – period – both in person and around the globe.”

Conway's response to Todd saying this was a false statement was, “You're saying it's a falsehood and Sean Spicer, our press secretary, gave alternative facts to that.”

I point this out not to pick sides or nitpick about politicians and the exhaustive nature of covering political figures. In fact, I think Conway's gutsy (or accidental) use of the phrase “alternative facts” was quite brilliant.

For one, it was a full admission of what we've all known for all of our lives about political posturing. For two, it laid the cards out on the table as far as what to expect from press conferences. For three, the relationship between a presidential administration and the press shouldn't be a cozy one. And both sides should hold the other accountable for what is said, printed or broadcasted – and they should respect that relationship.

I think what we're watching is like when a foreign exchange student shows up at your high school and no one understands him or how to communicate with him. If this relationship is going to work, both sides cannot be so stubborn to think that the other side needs to adapt without any effort from themselves. To continue the analogy, it's like watching your kids not agreeing on the rules of “kick the can.” If you can't agree on the basis of the rules, the game won't work for anyone.

The journalism motherships of the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Associated Press, NBC, CBS and whomever else you read or watch for news, are all at a crossroads. Do they maintain journalistic platforms they've stood on for generations? Yes. Do they adjust expectations from sources and even themselves? Maybe a tiny bit. Do they start using alternative facts for their stories? No. They should stick to the bedrock of what a free press is all about.

Dan Rather put it best, with a simple question and advice for reporters to use when they know White House officials are lying. '“What will you do to combat the lying from the White House? If they dodge and weave, keep with the follow ups. And if they refuse to give a satisfactory answer, end the interview.”

I get your point, but easier said than done Mr. Rather.

Now we're venturing into the “journalism as a business” territory of advertising revenue, subscription, readership declines and TV ratings. Let's face it – chasing lies makes for great TV.

All of this leads me here: Let's agree to try and create, and stay focused on, a clear vision for the credit union industry. What's happening in politics and in the White House is going to be kind of nuts for a while and it's becoming a true distraction for our members and our lives. And that's our democracy.

Don't let the alternative facts that are being created distract you from your cooperative mission and goals for your membership. It's your job to filter out the regulatory madness happening in Washington to create true benefits of your credit union's products and services for your members. Check in with your league, or NAFCU or CUNA, or your mom (she's always right) to see what you can do to help bring some lucidity to this world.

Changes are already happening within the Trump administration impacting the mortgage and CFPB spaces of our credit union universe. That's pretty exciting and, for some, unnerving. Whatever the case, if I'm excited or worried about something, I like to turn to one of my favorite people of all time for help – Fred Rogers. Growing up, Mister Rogers calmed me and helped me focus with his quiet manner and very clear words that even I understood as a boy. Today, his words stay with me in all points of my life. Words like these: “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'”

You have a massive industry support group to help you focus. For now, focus on that fact (it's not an alternative fact) and maybe think about ignoring Sunday morning political talk shows for a while.

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Staying Focused in a World of Alternative Facts

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