The popular and sensational are also driving social media, where some 68% of the American public now gets its news. If a large enough portion of the public comes to trust Trump’s own words more than the media’s, Trump can get away with saying – and doing – whatever he wants. How, then, can print and broadcast news rebuild public trust? Fifth, they should have ombudsmen to investigate public complaints about their coverage, along with public editors who serve as paid in-house critics. These steps are necessary not only to rebuild public trust but also to restore the media to its rightful place in our democracy and protect the truth as a common good.

Source: The Guardian December 02, 2019 09:15 UTC