Thanks to cable television, the Internet, Twitter, Facebook and so many other forms of social media, we now live in a world of 24-hour, nonstop news.

As I write this editorial, the country is wrestling with the case of Trayvon Martin. On Feb. 26, 17-year-old Martin was fatally shot as he was walking home from the store. George Zimmerman, a neighborhood-watch volunteer in the gated community where the shooting took place, claims he killed Martin in self-defense. The facts of the case are still being determined, but that has not stopped most news outlets — or most people — from passing judgment one way or another.

In the absence of the official police report, news outlets have rushed to flesh out the story in any way possible. I’ve read and seen a number of contradictory stories. As a journalist, I’m saddened and embarrassed.

The Martin case is certainly not the only example. Any number of stories and issues fall to the same fate of less than thorough reporting.

Perhaps it’s easier, more comfortable to compartmentalize or pass judgment on things in a way that doesn’t make us squirm or makes us feel secure in our beliefs. And while that’s understandable, how are we to form a well-informed opinion when we’re not entirely sure we’re hearing the whole story?

Every minute seems to herald “Breaking News.” But that oversaturation of information often comes at a price. We try people in the court of public opinion. We rush to judgment based on whatever news is available on that particular channel, on that particular day.

Add to that features such as CNN’s iReport, which in its “about” section contains this sentence: “The stories here are not edited, fact-checked or screened before they post.” These are hardly the most reassuring words for anyone looking for accurate, unbiased reporting!

We can quickly fall into the “Crucify him! Crucify him!” mob mentality. Had we been there on that Good Friday, would we have been swept up in the reports of the day concerning Jesus? Or would we have taken the time to get the full story?

So how do we know what’s up? What’s fact, speculation or innuendo? How do we form our consciences about news and issues in a responsible manner?

Too often we search out and find the report or statistics that most closely match what we want to hear. But to form our consciences completely, shouldn’t we stop, step back and take a look at things from all angles — as uncomfortable as that sometimes may be?

How do we better inform ourselves? Here are some suggestions:

Be open. Just because you don’t like a certain position doesn’t mean you shouldn’t learn about it.

For instance, earlier this year when the Susan G. Komen Foundation stated that it would no longer take funds from Planned Parenthood, and then rescinded shortly after, my colleagues and I had a discussion on getting beyond the headlines to the truth. Sometimes you have to stare what you don’t like in the face to find answers. Looking at things from the other side of the fence may even strengthen your original belief.

Widen your news sources. Do you usually watch the same news station? Change the channel to a different station. See what they’re saying about the same issues/stories. You could get a different perspective.

If you always read only one newspaper, try reading a different one. Study both papers’ editorial pages and see what each has to say.

Do your homework. Don’t pass judgment before getting your facts straight. Do a little digging, look under the rocks, pray about it. Do whatever it takes to get the full picture. Only then can you reach a well-informed conclusion.

Ask questions. If something doesn’t seem right to you or you just don’t know the answer, ask about it. Asking questions is how we learn things.

I am well known for calling or emailing university professors, sports organizations, companies, etc., to ask questions or check facts.

Granted, they’re not always earthshattering questions — such as when my son, Alex, asked me if bugs snore. But thanks to some research and a call to a local professor renowned for his bug knowledge, I feel better informed. (By the way, bugs do not snore.)

Sir Francis Bacon said, “Knowledge is power.” I believe that and hope you do, too. Fully embrace that power and inform your conscience. Perhaps you’ll end up with the same opinion, the same conclusion. But you’ll have a more solid basis for what you believe.