great issue! I'm afraid trust is gone (at least for a long time), and in the era of interactive media, the role of journalism must change. there's not point trying to report facts (half the audience won't believe them, and anyway it's often just repeating what others have reported already). the new role for journalism might be to "convene the audience" and help "mediate the conversation." we're not all waiting to receive wisdom from Walter Cronkite (or any of his successors). but if Walter were to tell us where we should all meet (preferably online) to air, discuss and come to consensus on the major issues, I for one would be there.
it is very important, but far less important than it was before every person had a camera, an ability to post what they see going on, and a 24/7 global newsfeed like only a few of us did 40 years ago. making sense of the firehose is far more important now. and it's the audience that needs to make sense of it together.
great issue! I'm afraid trust is gone (at least for a long time), and in the era of interactive media, the role of journalism must change. there's not point trying to report facts (half the audience won't believe them, and anyway it's often just repeating what others have reported already). the new role for journalism might be to "convene the audience" and help "mediate the conversation." we're not all waiting to receive wisdom from Walter Cronkite (or any of his successors). but if Walter were to tell us where we should all meet (preferably online) to air, discuss and come to consensus on the major issues, I for one would be there.
I do like the idea of journalism as mediator, I was writing about this years ago. Nonetheless I think reporting facts remains very important.
it is very important, but far less important than it was before every person had a camera, an ability to post what they see going on, and a 24/7 global newsfeed like only a few of us did 40 years ago. making sense of the firehose is far more important now. and it's the audience that needs to make sense of it together.