In these days of 24-hour media, blogosphere and YouTube, consumers must be aware of where the information they are reading or listening to is coming from. They must think critically. They must consider the source, the motivation and whether the information is put in context.

Several recent examples come to mind.

Nationally, a conservative blogger Andrew Breitbart posted a video clip that gave the impression that Shirley Sherrod, a former Department of Agriculture official who is black, showed reverse racism when she failed to help a white farmer as much as possible.

She was quickly asked to resign but was subsequently apologized to and offered another job.

It seems that upon further investigation, Sherrod’s full speech to an NAACP banquet was trying to make a different point – that “there is no difference between us.” In fact, Sherrod did help the farmer, whose family also came to her defense.

Consider the source and the timing of the posting. The video was posted shortly after the NAACP passed a resolution accusing the Tea Party movement as having “racist elements.”

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack could have saved everyone a lot of embarrassment if he had have fully researched the quote and its context instead of asking for Sherrod’s resignation.

In Colorado these days, it seems consumers – and politicians – need to be caveat emptor.

Republican Senate primary candidate Ken Buck has been taped making several gaffes by observers. I can’t say for sure if these are folks the Democratic National Committee reportedly has encouraged to upload embarrassing, contradictory or revealing videos of Republican politicians, but that’s what they seem to be doing.

First, Buck was recorded as he wondered aloud why fellow Republican and supporter Tom Tancredo opens his mouth after Tancredo called Obama the biggest threat to the country.

In another instance, a “Democratic operative” used a hidden voice recorder to catch Buck referring to members of the Tea Party movement, who question President Barack Obama’s citizenship, as “dumbasses.”

While it wasn’t the terminology a candidate should use or the way to address the issue, again consider the source – a “Democratic operative using a hidden video recorder.” If this individual had identified himself and asked Buck what he thought of these individuals, his answer might have been completely different.

As you read or listen to your news, consider the source. How are these individuals getting their quotes and videos? Are the quotes presented in full context? Do these individuals have an ulterior motive? Are they identifying themselves or hiding a recorder in their pocket?

As far as WikiLeaks, my vote is still out. While I applaud some of what is being done by the organization, I am concerned by the quotes from its founder, Julian Assange, after it released 91,000 secret documents about the war in Afghanistan.

Assange was quoted as saying: “I enjoy creating systems on a grand scale, and I enjoy helping people who are vulnerable. . . . And I enjoy crushing bastards. So it is enjoyable work.”

Again, caveat emptor.

Susan Cormier is the head coach in charge of training at the National Association of Citizen Journalists (http://nacj.us/) and co-author of the “Handbook for Citizen Journalists” (http://www.citizenjournalistnow.com/).

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