Truth in journalism final LUTHER

1. TRUTH IN JOURNALISM
Truth Across the Disciplines
4/5/18

2. TRUTH IN JOURNALISM
•The classic definition of journalism
tells us that while journalism is not
going to provide an absolute,
objective truth - because that is simply
impossible - it should strive to provide
the best approximation of the truth
that is possible in the time
available.

3. “FAKE NEWS”
• There’s no denying that “fake news” has
become part of our cultural lexicon about
journalism …but “fake” in what way?
• FAKE = Factual but not important/not really a
news story
• FAKE = Factual but a story being run instead of
another, more important/relevant one
• FAKE = Factually wrong (partially or completely)
but well-intentioned
• FAKE = Partially or completely fabricated by
design to serve a particular agenda

4. “FAKE NEWS”
•Is mainstream/alternative news
media ever “fake” in one or more of
these ways?
•OF COURSE IT IS!
•For as long as there’s been mass
media there’s been a battle over
control of it…for the highest stakes
possible

5. “FAKE NEWS”
•Is mainstream/alternative news
media ever “fake” in one or more of
these ways?
•OF COURSE IT IS!
•For as long as there’s been mass
media there’s been a battle over
control of it
•Journalism = constitutionally
protected profession

6. TRUTH IN JOURNALISM
•The importance of this battle was
not long on our founding fathers
•There’s a reason “Journalist” is one
of the few constitutionally
protected professions
•Because DEMOCRACY depends on
a free press that can keep watch on
those in power!

7. TRUTH IN JOURNALISM
•The importance of this battle was
not long on our founding fathers
•There’s a reason “Journalist” is one
of the few constitutionally
protected professions
•Because DEMOCRACY depends on
a free press that can keep watch on
those in power!

8. TRUTH IN JOURNALISM
• There should be a robust and vigorous
discussion about the veracity of a society’s news
media – a discussion that should never end!
• “Journalism” is not an island unto itself – it’s an
island populated with people exhibiting all the
strengths and weaknesses we all possess. No
one, including even the most ethical and
industrious journalist, is infallible.
• The question is – and always has been and, I
imagine, always will be – “who should I trust?”

9. TRUTH IN JOURNALISM
•To that end need to encourage people
to trust sources that strive to:
•Investigate & Inform
•Accurately & Fairly

10. TRUTH IN JOURNALISM
• The choices will be personal – they always have
been – but what matters is that people,
regardless of existing beliefs, willingly pursue
sources that are ethically pursuing “truth in
journalism”.
• It’s not that ethical journalism doesn’t exist – it
certainly does – the difficulty often comes
with overcoming news consumers’ own biases
such as “Selective Attention” and “Selective
Retention” which are embedded within human

11. CURRENT “DEFENSE”
• NEWS LITERACY SKILLS:
• “News literacy is the acquisition of 21st-
century, critical-thinking skills for analyzing
and judging the reliability of news and
information, differentiating among facts,
opinions and assertions in the media we
consume, create and distribute. It can be
taught most effectively in cross-curricular,
inquiry-based formats at all grade levels. It
is a necessary component for literacy in