Truth vs. Lies

“In a sense Donald Trump has done journalism a favor. In his cavalier disregard for truth he has reminded people why societies need to be able to distinguish fact from fiction. At their best, journalists do that job well. They can now harness almost infinite resources to help them. But, at the same time, we have created the most prodigious capability for spreading lies the world has ever seen. And the economic system for supporting journalism looks dangerously unstable. The stakes for truth have never been higher.” 

—Alan Rusbridger, former editor of The Guardian and author of “Breaking News: The Remaking of Journalism and Why It Matters Now,” quoted in “A Revolution for Journalism — or a Death Knell?” The New York Times, January 2019.

• Editorial Comment: Out here, lies and truth can start to look a lot alike.

PeezPix

Say What You Think. But Think First.

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“I don’t think writers are sacred, but words are. They deserve respect. If you get the right ones, in the right order, you can nudge the world a little.” —Tom Stoppard