Diversity of News Sources
Helps Defeat Propaganda
By Sara Nelson

More than 20 people attended a lecture on "media empowerment" at the Kimball Library last Wednesday night.

It was one of a series of talks and workshops given last week by visiting writer and teacher Jeff Nygaard.

Nygaard is the Minnesota-based author of "Nygaard Notes," an e-newsletter analyzing current events for "anyone who believes in the values of solidarity, justice, compassion, and democracy."

He was brought to town by the Randolph Area Peace Coalition to speak to several high school classes and other concerned citizens.

In her introduction to Wednesday’s lecture, Coalition member Susan Delattre, a friend of Nygaard’s, explained that the organization was trying to address the question, "How can we deal with this media-saturated culture?"

In his lecture, Nygaard discussed different forms of propaganda, recommending that people "inoculate" themselves against propaganda by using a variety of news sources, asking their own questions about the news, and increasing all forms of diversity in their lives.

Nygaard was also scheduled to give a workshop for activists on Saturday, which he said would emphasize an "action-reflection-action" cycle.

"Progressive activists often don’t take as much time as they should to do intellectual work," he said.

As a self-described "public intellectual," Nygaard’s emphasis on intellectual freedom has an interesting history. Although he grew up in a traditional family in rural Minnesota, Nygaard says he’s been something of a radical since high school. He never attended college, instead working for a number of progressive causes and at a number of blue collar jobs.

"I’ve been a delivery driver, factory worker, and grocery store clerk," he said.

Perhaps because of this working-class background, Nygaard is skeptical of traditional divisions between powerful and powerless people.

"I have friends who went to Ivy League schools who came out thinking they’re qualified to be in charge. I’m not so sure about that," he said.

As he prepared for his talk to a class of Randolph Union High School students, Nygaard said he hoped his presentation would encourage them to think critically and imaginatively.

"Like the bumper sticker says, don’t believe everything you think," he said.

Nygaard’s articles are available at www.nygaardnotes.org.