Context : I wrote this persuasive speech for my Public speaking class, final assignment after my professor told me “ Don’t fuck this last assignment up, AJ”. I was among the top speakers in my class despite English not being my first language. My pride and laziness made me turn the draft empty when the prof asked what the title of my final speech will be and hence i got the verbal warning to not fuck it up. Kevin Coffee, my professor, is bold, direct and a no bullshitter man. He enabled the class to speak our mind. Mr.Coffee exponentially helped me with my growth. I told him I want to persuade people to read my website for my speech . At first, he said no, that he won’t let me shamelessly plug my website on the final exam but he said it could be interesting if i can pull it off but I might have some technical issues with in-speech citations. I went home in less than 18 hours having no clue what I would talk about. The written version was not required to be submitted, only the speech. Plus, I wore a proper black suit with a lanyard attached to it as my “Media ID”. I will write more details later at the end, enjoy the speech that I wrote for now.
Imagine waking up one morning to find out that everything you believed about the world—your safety, your leaders, even your values—was based on a lie. Sounds dramatic? Maybe. But it’s not far from the truth when we blindly trust everything the media shows us. In today’s digital world, where information is accessible 24/7, being skeptical isn’t just smart—it’s necessary. As someone who works in the media industry , we should be more skeptical when it comes to news. 3 bad things will happen if we fail to be more skeptical when it comes to news. Those three things are 1) falling for propaganda 2)becoming misinformed, and 3) sheep mentality. The consequences aren’t just personal—they’re societal, and they’re dangerous.
Body Paragraph 1 – Fear of Propaganda:
First, blind trust in the media makes us vulnerable to propaganda, which can be used to manipulate public opinion on a massive scale. According to a July 2022 report by The Brookings Institution,in the commentary entitled “Misinformation is eroding the public’s confidence in democracy” by Gabriel R Sanchez disinformation campaigns by foreign and domestic actors have become more sophisticated, targeting people’s emotions to push political agendas. When we don’t question what we’re told, we risk becoming pawns in someone else’s game. Think about the many times governments have justified wars or surveillance in the name of “security”—often using emotional news stories to win public support. If we don’t stay critical, we risk enabling manipulation that undermines democracy itself.
Body Paragraph 2 – Fear of Misinformation (clearer COVID example):
Second, Misinformation is not just annoying—it can be deadly. During the COVID-19 pandemic, false news spread faster than the virus itself. Social media platforms were flooded with fake cures, like drinking bleach. People believed these “treatments” because they heard them on news segments or saw viral posts that looked legitimate. According to www.who.int accessed on June 2nd, 2024, world health organization declared this a global “infodemic,” where dangerous falsehoods directly led to hospitalizations and deaths. If we don’t question what we see and hear, we risk becoming part of that chain of harm—not just to ourselves, but to our communities.
Body Paragraph 3 – Fear of Sheep Mentality and How to Counter It:
Finally, When we accept everything the media tells us without asking questions, we begin to adopt a sheep mentality—going along with the crowd rather than thinking critically. This makes it easier for people in power, corporations, or popular influencers to control what we believe and how we act. In the January 2025 issue of Therealnews magazine, in the article entitled Trust nothing by Arjan Kumar, it says Gen Z are 60% more susceptible to fake news as we believe we know it all. Just because you keep seeing the same news on different platforms does not mean it is true. But there’s a way out. According to psychologytoday.com accessed on June 1st 2025 , one of the best ways to resist groupthink is to slow down, ask questions, and expose yourself to multiple perspectives. Read from different sources, check the credentials behind what you’re watching, and don’t be afraid to challenge what’s popular. Being skeptical isn’t negative—it’s responsible. It keeps us informed and protects our independence of thought.
The truth is, even in this speech, I have had 4 citations. 3 of them are 100% true and are from credible sources that you can cross check. One of them is utter bullshit. It is now time for you to take a step back and reflect on what is true and question why you think is true and cross check. Falling for propaganda, spreading misinformation, and adopting a sheep mentality are three things on why we should be more skeptical when it comes to news
Cites
World Health Organization. Infodemic. World Health Organization, 2 June 2024, www.who.int. Accessed 2 June 2024.
**I got an A in this class, got a great applause and Professor Coffee’s positive feedback on how the last part of my speech captivated the whole class. As someone who started this public speaking class anxious, I am proud that I did good. Also , I have not edited the speech since I wrote it in March 2025, if I were to add to it, I would include AI fake news and propaganda. As well as other news media tactics that the USA has done to distract the public. Every country does this. If they have your attention diverted while an ongoing issue is unanswered, you may be getting distracted.