Where Are You Buying Your Health Info?

I have had the great fortune to work both in the media & in front of the media most of my professional life. I've been on the editorial staff at two magazines and have served (and continue to serve) as a spokesperson within the food and nutrition industry, interviewing with national media outlets, such as USA Today, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times among others.

Much of this work was done, though, before the the blogosphere and Twitterverse exploded. And while I, as much as the next Blackberry toting, iPad playing person, love instant access to info, I'm so troubled at what little leg work so many bloggers (who can now be considered "media") do to fact check their stories.

Listen up folks. If you're sounding off on topics, whether you call yourself an expert or not, you have a responsibility to your audience to know your stuff AND verify what you're printing is true. And I don't mean hints at the truth... I mean, verifiably true.

I've been accused (by myself mostly) of NOT updating my blog near as much as I should, and I'll confess that a lot of that relates to the extra "work" that a good blog takes to make sure what you're printing is credible.

But in a day and age where someone with a degree in history can become a self-proclaimed Health and Nutrition expert via their own personal blog (I'm not pointing the finger here... just illustrating an example), it's alarming the number of people who are subject to their "feelings" about food companies, their "take" on nutrition topics... or maybe just voicing their personal mission of the moment.

Remember the phrase "Caveat emptor"... let the buyer beware? I hate that in what used to be deemed a venue for truth, honesty & credibility (i.e. the "media"), we've now segwayed into something that is a blurring of these notions. Basically, sensationalism sells... so when you're buying your future health, based on what you read out here... caveat emptor.

Questions:

-Do you look at a blogger's credentials or background to verify whether they're a credible source?

-What are your favorite sources of health/nutrition info?

~Regan

(Image courtsey of Flickr. All rights reserved by Amber & Adolph)