How Do You Know What You Know?

Today, while I took my casual, routine tour of Facebook, not really looking for anything in particular, something struck me.  There it was, a picture of a woman, obviously late in her pregnancy, running in a track and field event.  The story reads, Pregnant runner Alysia Montano finishes 800.  The 28 year old, 34 weeks pregnant, five-time national champion competed in the U.S. Track and Field Championships.  My first thought was that this can't be real!  I clicked on the link and it took me to KHON2.  This is apparently a news station in Hawaii.  The reporter, Michael Wagman wrote a convincing story about Alysia Montano. "The five-time national champion finished in 2 minutes, 32.13 seconds - nearly 35 seconds slower than her personal best of 1:57.34 in 2010 in Monaco" (Wagman, 2014).  I still wasn't completely certain this was true.  However, there was a video.  No, I don't believe that every video I see is necessarily true.  Video technology has advanced in such a way that it allows people to create incredible images.  This was no distorted image of an over weight woman trying to run.  This was an actual interview with Montano.  Montano's main point was that her doctor had advised her to continue to do whatever she had been doing prior to her pregnancy.  She was a runner, so she continued to run!

So, how do you know what you know?  Research!  After reading the article and looking at the video, I decided to do some of my own research.  I went to a few medical websites.  My favorite is WebMD.  They were actually running a feature story, Staying Fit While Pregnant.  Dr. John Botti, the Director of maternal-fetal medicine at Penn State Geisinger Health System states "that exercise is not a process to be eschewed or prevented during pregnancy" (WebMD, n.d.).  The belief is that if you were a healthy, physically fit person prior to pregnancy, you should still be able to enjoy a fitness routine.  Will you be able to perform at your optimal level?  Maybe not, but you certainly don't have to become a coach potato either!  Bonnie Berk, creator of Mother Well, a pre and postnatal fitness program states that only 20% to 30% of the population exercises on a regular basis, so the typical pregnant woman hasn't done much exercising prior to her pregnancy (WebMD, n.d.).  After all is said and done, I believe this story.  No, Montano didn't finish first, she actually finished last, 35 seconds slower than her personal best.

Do I think that social media is a reliable source for obtaining credible information?  Not all the time, but it can certainly be a great place to start!

References
Wagman, M. (2014, June 26). Pregnant runner Alysia Montano finishes 800. Retrieved from www.khon2.com/2014/06/26/pregnant-runner-alysia-montano-finishes-800/.

WebMD (n.d.). Staying fit while pregnant. retrieved from www.webmd.com/baby/features/staying-fit-pregnant

New Media

When I was in college, there weren't too many forms of media to choose from.  You either heard it on the radio, saw it on television, or read it somewhere.  Now, "new media" has taken over!  You have Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and that's just to name a few.  There are websites for the fun loving social butterfly, and websites for the suit and tie businessman trying to get ahead.  My personal favorite, I'm social butterfly girl!  I love Facebook.  I have a LinkedIn account also, but my profile is atrocious!  I've got to change that.  I just finished studying about "branding" yourself.  My profile certainly doesn't promote a good brand.  One thing I have noticed about social media, is that there is so much information available.  It can be as simple as how to bake a pie, or as serious as where the latest bomb was dropped in Iraq.  Regardless of the type of information you are looking for, you must consider the source!  Actors, singers, they get killed off all the time on social media sites.  However, you'll see that same singer, two days later, at the next awards show.  When Michael Jackson died, I heard about it on social media first.  I didn't believe it.  It wasn't until I got in my car to head home and heard it on the radio that I believed it.  I use social media for fun.  I don't rely on it for things that I think are important.  I use print, radio, and television for that.  I guess I'm telling my age now.  I'm just saying....