How we get information has always mattered, but it did so especially in 2020, which was a very different year. It was harrowing to see country after country being afflicted by the coronavirus disease virus. As the pandemic spread across the globe, societies went into lockdown and borders closed. The speed with which this happened at the beginning of the year was breathtaking. We then saw China recover, while many other countries suffered second and even third waves, as well as an aggressive mutant strain of the virus. People worked, educated their children and played at home. Their contacts with friends and family were severely restricted. The pandemic took a big toll on lives globally. The sheer dimension of the spread stretched healthcare systems in advanced economies beyond their capacity. In developing economies, which do not have the healthcare infrastructure to cope with medical emergencies, things looked even worse. There was much controversy over the World Health Organization, just at a time when its expertise and organizational wherewithal was needed like never before. The US terminating its membership was clearly a blow. When there is so much uncertainty, it matters where we get the facts from. For some time now, we have been living in a world of “alternative facts,” where some politicians relay their personal truths as they see them, rather than using verifiable intelligence. Politicians have always spun things in their favor, but messaging without any basis in reality is a more recent phenomenon. The US exemplifies and magnifies this issue: There are TV networks that relay things so differently that one could be forgiven for thinking they portrayed parallel universes. The US and other societies seem to be split right down the middle. The result of November’s presidential election exemplified this tendency. This would have been difficult under normal circumstances, but it was beyond imaginable while the country was paralyzed by the pandemic. Hundreds of thousands have died and millions have been infected by the virus. This has made the general population vulnerable, not just physically or economically, but also to misinformation. At such times, who delivers the news becomes doubly important. Those trusted networks, radio stations and newspapers that check facts and weed out “alternative facts” become pivotal. It is to the faces of those TV anchors, the voices on the wireless and the names of print reporters and columnists we turn when we seek trusted information and the truth. It is those sources, which verify the accuracy of their reporting, that are extremely important at a time when things move rapidly and affect people’s lives and jobs. It is facts, not rumors, that we have to rely on to decide whether we should stay at home or go to work, whether to travel or not, etc. We all feel less secure when we are separated from loved ones, colleagues and the usual patterns of work, travel and play. This makes it doubly important that the information we receive in our “bubbles” is checked and accurate. Social media has given everyone a voice and the power of the pen. Posts are unfiltered, which is OK as long as they do not incite violence or bully the recipient. However, when it comes to the importance of wearing masks or being vaccinated at the height of a pandemic, it is vital there are outlets that follow science rather than propaganda — because what is at stake can be life itself. The pandemic has made the general population vulnerable, not just physically or economically, but also to misinformation. Cornelia Meyer As stated above, politicians will always spin facts to their advantage. That is the nature of politics. However, during a pandemic, it is vital that those trusted voices, faces and pens in reputable news organizations hold our political leaders’ feet to the fire. It is also vital during elections. Governments have had to resort to drastic measures, requiring emergency powers and curbs on individual liberties. But this is a time of crisis, and restrictions such as lockdowns and curfews have had to be imposed as officials tackle a public health emergency of the highest order. People don’t like having their freedoms curtailed, as was evident in the many anti-lockdown demonstrations seen in the Western world. The only way to cajole people along is to make it understood that these measures were based on science and hence were the only way forward. That message only hits home when countries have media organizations that can be trusted to report the truth. In other words, during a pandemic at a time when “alternative facts” have become as prevalent as unfiltered social media commentary, reliable sources of news are more important than ever. They actually become the glue that holds societies together. Cornelia Meyer is a Ph.D.-level economist with 30 years of experience in investment banking and industry. She is chairperson and CEO of business consultancy Meyer Resources. Twitter: @MeyerResources Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers in this section are their own and do not necessarily reflect Arab News" point-of-view