Think deeper to write better

Do you believe everything you read? I used to. But I only started writing better after I stopped taking things at face value.

Let's take a closer look at the world we live in this UnfilteredFriday. And how the ability to see the right shade of grey can change everything.

All that is good

Picture this. A conversation with a company executive waxing lyrical about their brand and the amazing products they've developed over the years,

What about their organisation? Why, it thrives on innovation and a relentless pursuit of excellence. It is an exceptional place where creativity knows no bounds.

Of course! What did you expect?

Headlines of the day

While we are cognisant that company representatives have a vested interest in presenting a certain narrative, we are less likely to do the same to the news reports that we read.

This is a mistake. We need to read news through the correct lens to get the real story.

Specifically:

• The precise words matter.
• Agenda of the person quoted.
• The inherent bias of the publication.

Even then, the omission of certain viewpoints and strategic use of words can skew the narrative. To get the facts, one needs to read widely and from disparate perspectives.

Read between the lines

One time-honed example I like to use is the Straits Times. Have you ever noticed that most headlines are positive to the point of being saccharine?

Here's two from February:

• "Fewer uni graduates in 2024 found full-time work, but they had higher pay: Survey"
• "Fewer fresh poly grads secure full-time jobs in 2024, but take home higher pay"

Here's my question: What are the above headlines trying to obfuscate?

Then there's the paywall. Yet not all stories are behind it. In my estimation, the type of stories made available for public access tells a story of its own.

The facts of a matter

When I started writing daily on LinkedIn in May 2023, I saw no point in regurgitating the words of partial spokespersons and the claims made by brands.

That's why I remove them all.

Here's how I write:

• Stick with the raw facts.
• Highlight genuine breakthroughs.
• Add in relevant industry context.
• Incorporate my opinions.

And then I craft it so it's easy to read, even for non-experts.

In a sense, there's really two versions of most of my stories within the same post: An easy-to-read narrative for most readers, and one with insights not found in typical news reports.

Do you read your news with a critical eye?