I'm a member of the media and don't trust most of the industry, so it's no surprise to me to read a Gallup Poll report that says most Americans don't trust the media either. In fact, trust for the media is at a record high, with 57 percent of the people polled saying they don't trust the media. And, if you're college educated and make more than $75,000 a year, the poll suggests, you're less likely to trust the media than those who aren't and don't.

Oddly enough, Republicans report trusting the media less than Democrats in these results that also state 48 percent of those polled think the media's too liberal. That's odd because the highest-rated television and radio shows are conservative. (Of course, a third of those polled think the political balance is just right.)

Speaking from personal experience: I've been misquoted and watched others in the media show up at trials only to read their own newspaper. And I've witnessed time after time, reporters show up who don't have the first clue about the story they're reporting on only to grab the first three quotes they can get and run back to their offices before the news event they're covering is even over. It's also frustrating to see press releases repeated, verbatim, in the news. And, sometimes, you can even catch a television station using unedited, unexplained content produced by companies that are directly impacted by the issue. (See the video after the jump.)

Election day is Tues., Nov. 2. But, that doesn't mean much to you if you're not already registered to vote, something you can do quickly and easily at DemocracyNC.org. The last day to register is Fri., Oct. 8 ... but why wait when you can click the button now? If you miss that deadline, though, One-Stop absentee voting begins Tues., Oct. 14. That's when you can register to vote and vote at the same time.

Voting in elections is critical for anyone living in a Democracy. For many, like African-Americans and women, the right to vote wasn't a gimme. Many people fought hard to not only secure the right to vote for these segments of the population, but also to push back those who attempted to prevent them from voting even after they won the right to do so.

It really bugs me when any segment of our population is ignored by those in power, but this isn't a new phenomenon. Still, I'm happy to report that Qnotes, via the blog Interstate Q, a news source for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender population, is reporting they've received mail from Charlotte's Mayor's office:

After more than a decade of McCrory’s cold shoulder, Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx has put his official acknowledgement of our lives on paper.

Most mayors and other government officials across the country and world write these sorts of things. They’re customary and tradition, mostly. Given our history here in Charlotte, however, it’s a sign of progress. Although there are a few positives — CMPD is reaching out and will hold a public forum with LGBT community members in October, and sexual orientation was finally added to city employment policies this past March — the Queen City still has a long, long way to go before its LGBT citizens are fully accepted and embraced in the full life of this city (like the most recent example in which city-county officials couldn’t bring themselves to simply say, “No, we don’t discriminate against LGBT people”).

Read the entire post, by Matt Comer, here.

For the record, every member of our society is worthy of our politician's attention and support.

The media could do a better job, too:

Rhiannon "Rhi" Bowman is an independent journalist who contributes snarky commentary on Creative Loafing's CLog blog four days a week in addition to writing for several other local media organizations. Additionally, she's on the steering committee for the Greater Charlotte Society of Professional Journalists. To learn more, click the links or follow Rhi on Twitter.

Technically, the University of North Carolina's 2nd annual First Amendment Day isn't until Thurs., Sept. 30. But, Charlotte's so darn excited about the First Amendment that we just can't contain ourselves, so we decided to get the party started first thing Monday morning. (Two examples: one, two.)

Since you're all aflutter about the First Amendment (and who isn't?), here it is:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Say what you want, people. Believe what you want. Viva la prensa libre! (Long live the free press!) Government, sit yo' self down. We've got some shit to say, and you're gonna listen. In fact, we might just hold a rally.

Listen up: If we don't understand our rights, if we don't use them and stand up for them, we risk losing them. So, speak up! Don't be shy. Say what you need to say. Advocate for your beliefs. Publish your thoughts on the Internet or on paper ... your choice. Get yourself a T-shirt that reads, "I can say 'fuck' if I want to," and wear it wherever you want. Get yourself a picket sign. Go to the most radical church you can find, or the most traditional. Or, believe nothing at all. You pick. They're your rights. Express them as you see fit.

And, never forget this: The First Amendment isn't only about protecting your rights to free speech, to worship as you choose, to hold a rally, to publish what you want ... it's about every citizen's right to do all of those things. If you love the First Amendment, as I do, then you'll respect everyone's right to express themselves just as fervently as you'd protect your own right to do so.

Why? Because none of us know it all. But, when we share our ideas — however colorful, dumb or dull — we can crowdsource the best mix of them. Get it? Sharing makes us better. Allowing others to explore their ideas and beliefs may well teach us something about our own. Standing up for your own beliefs is empowering, and if you don't do it who will?

Here's Larry Flint, the infamous publisher of Hustler, whose own First Amendment battles lead him to the Supreme Court and a wheel chair. He also has a website that advocates for First Amendment rights. You should really listen to what he has to say in this video:

Rhiannon "Rhi" Bowman is an independent journalist who contributes snarky commentary on Creative Loafing's CLog blog four days a week in addition to writing for several other local media organizations. Additionally, she's on the steering committee for the Greater Charlotte Society of Professional Journalists. To learn more, click the links or follow Rhi on Twitter.