The Decline of Newspapers and the Rise of Electronic News: A Call for a Return to Fact-Based Reporting

Bedrock Beyond the Flintstones

Paul Grant Truesdell
Ocala, Florida

The steady decline of print newspapers in recent decades, hastened by the rise of digital media and electronic news, has fundamentally reshaped the landscape of journalism and how the public consumes information. This is not new or news. While this shift has undeniably expanded access to a broader range of perspectives and enabled the near-instantaneous dissemination of breaking news, it has also ushered in an era marked by superficiality, political bias, and a troubling erosion of journalistic integrity. The word propaganda should be defined before I move forward.

Propaganda

Propaganda is information, that is biased or misleading in nature, used to promote a political cause or point of view. It often appeals to emotions and unfounded biases rather than objectivity and rationality. Propaganda techniques include selectively presenting facts, using loaded language to provoke an emotional response, stereotyping, scapegoating, name calling and spreading unfounded rumors.

Obvious examples of propaganda include wartime posters demonizing the enemy, political attack ads, and state-run media in both authoritarian and non-authoritarian countries pushing a government agenda.

Less overt examples can include advertising that makes questionable claims or implies unrealistic results, news media with a strong ideological slant that cherry-picks stories, facts, and personalities to push a narrative, many internet memes and social media posts that fan outrage, biased school textbooks that gloss over historical facts and figures that do not mesh with the politically correct climate of the day, and movies and entertainment of all types that in essence, are rewriting history.

At its core, propaganda involves a deliberate attempt to manipulate opinions and control information.

Bygone Days

In the bygone days of print media's dominance, newspapers served as the primary conduit for in-depth reporting, with seasoned journalists investing time and resources into thoroughly investigating stories and providing readers with comprehensive, nuanced accounts of events. These meticulously crafted articles offered a level of depth and context that allowed readers to fully grasp the complexities of the issues at hand, empowering them to form their own well-informed opinions.

As reading and comprehension skills have decreased, as evident by the failure to teach the classics and Latin in primary schooling, an ever-increasing number of bite sized bite articles that increasingly dumbed down to meet the needs of the general populace creeped forward until their dominance became influential and crossed the apex of the slippery slope.

Regrettably, the advent of electronic news has largely supplanted this traditional model with a deluge of bite-sized snippets and endlessly scrolling headlines. In the relentless pursuit of clicks and ad revenue. The result is that most digital media outlets have prioritized quantity over quality, churning out a ceaseless stream of cursory blurbs that barely scratch the surface of the stories they purport to cover.

Brevity Becomes Brief

This shift towards brevity and sensationalism left competent readers with agency and competence with a fragmented, incomplete understanding of the world around them, depriving them of the substantive reporting necessary to make sense of complex issues. And yes, there are plenty of fine and well-written and researched articles, magazines, books, academic, and scientific works, but the trustworthiness of all have fallen because of the pervasive unwillingness to reject that the box exists, let alone, thinking outside the box.

Agenda & Ideology

Moreover, the rise of digital media has coincided with an increasing politicization of the news, as outlets across the ideological spectrum vie for attention by catering to their target audiences' preconceived notions and biases. This pervasive "spin" has made it increasingly difficult for readers to discern fact from opinion, as even ostensibly objective reporting is often colored by the political leanings of the journalists and editors involved. Consequently, those seeking to get to the heart of a story and form their own conclusions based on unvarnished facts find themselves navigating a minefield of partisan rhetoric and competing narratives.

Echo Chambers

This deterioration of journalistic standards extends beyond the realm of politics, permeating professional, academic, and scientific spheres as well. The pressure to generate attention-grabbing content has led to a proliferation of dubious studies, misleading statistics, and questionable "expert" opinions that are uncritically amplified by the media. The old adage "garbage in, garbage out" has never been more apt, as this flood of misinformation and pseudoscience threatens to undermine public trust in legitimate research and erode the very foundations of rational discourse.

Bedrock Beyond The Flintstones

In light of these troubling developments, there is an urgent need for a return to the bedrock principles of fact-based journalism. The public deserves news outlets that prioritize accuracy, objectivity, and in-depth reporting over sensationalism and partisan pandering. Reporters must recommit themselves to reporting stories thoroughly, corroborating sources, and presenting readers with comprehensive, unbiased accounts of events. And note, I did not use the word “journalists,” as it has become a pejorative, and rightly so. Only time will tell whether the profession will return to reasonable respect.

Documentation Integrity

A demand and insistence on documentation integrity, for that is what news truly is, must be accompanied by a concerted effort to cultivate critical thinking skills among the populace. In an age where information is more accessible than ever before, it is essential that American citizens are equipped with the tools to discern credible sources from propaganda, to weigh evidence rationally, and to draw their own well-reasoned conclusions. Only by fostering a citizenry of well-educated and independent thinkers can we hope to resist the tide of misinformation and manipulation that threatens to engulf us.

We Be What?

Regrettably, the trend in recent years has been towards a dumbing down of public discourse, as those in positions of power seek to exploit the ignorance and credulity of the masses for their own ends. This trend knows no one side of the aisle. The push to "empower" everyone by validating every opinion, no matter how ill-informed or irrational, has only served to create an environment in which critical thinking is discouraged and intellectual rigor is dismissed as elitism. I ask that you purchase the movie: “Idiocracy,” and watch it monthly.

Idiocracy

Idiocracy is a 2006 satirical science fiction comedy film directed by Mike Judge, who co-wrote the screenplay with Etan Cohen. The film stars Luke Wilson as Joe Bauers, an average American soldier, and Maya Rudolph as Rita, a prostitute. The supporting cast includes Dax Shepard, Terry Crews, and Anthony 'Citric' Campos. The performance of Terry Crews is classic Terry Crews.

The movie follows Joe and Rita, who participate in a top-secret military hibernation experiment. Due to a series of mishaps, they awaken 500 years later in a dystopian future where anti-intellectualism, commercialism, and consumerism have run rampant, leading to a society dominated by ignorance and stupidity. Joe, who was of average intelligence in his own time, finds himself the smartest person alive in this new era. He attempts to help the citizens of this dumbed-down world while searching for a way to return to his own time.

Watching Idiocracy on a monthly basis can serve as a reminder of the importance of critical thinking, true education, and resisting the dumbing down of society. The film's exaggerated portrayal of a future (using the word exaggeration may be an exaggeration) where intelligence and knowledge are devalued serves as a cautionary tale, urging viewers to actively oppose anti-intellectualism and celebrate the pursuit of wisdom. By regularly engaging with the movie's themes, I submit with humor, and a heavy dose of reality, that one can remain alert and attentive to the signs of societal decay. The film's satirical take on consumerism, mass media, and the erosion of cultural values should make the thinking man among us, think critically about the ever-increasing noise of the “non-player characters” (NPCs) we find in life and increasingly in positions of authority. “God help us.”

This race to the bottom bodes ill for the future of our society, as a populace that cannot think for itself is all too easily controlled by those who would seek to manipulate it.

And So…

The decline of print newspapers and the rise of electronic news have brought about not a crisis in journalism, but exasperated the breakage of pride, nationalism, and traditional American values with superficiality, bias, and an erosion of factual reporting. Degrees in modern cultural studies are a sorry excuse for academic excellence in a world in desperate need for historically based visionaries with unencumbered avenues of exploration. This is a polite way of saying: Studying garbage is best left to the garbage man or a true archeologist who is able and willing to call it for what it is.

To counter these troubling trends, we must demand a return to the time-honored principles of thorough, objective, and collective journalism. Note with reflection the word “collective.” Cultivating a society of legitimate critical thinkers who are equipped to navigate the complexities of the modern information landscape is both an art and science, and only for those who meet a rigorous standard of independence and intelligence. All others must be ignored and never placed on pedestals for any made-up DEI convoluted, nonsensical, ludicrous, silly, and irrational argument. Correct? No. DEI is wrong for all, especially those who truly need assistance from the most capable in society.

Touching All The Rails

The push for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in key professions like law, medicine, engineering, science, and yes, journalism and entertainment, not only inadvertently but absolutely hurts lower-income and less intelligent American citizens, more than those of means and high intellect. How? By prioritizing diversity over merit, DEI initiatives lead to the selection of less qualified candidates for “must” regulate professions. This compromising results in the lowering of the quality of services provided to those of meagre means. The hard and unvarnished truth is that the broadly defined poor, are disproportionately affected by lower standards. Discouraging intelligent and skilled individuals from pursuing critical and regulated professions due to perceived unfairness in the selection process is an overt expression of contempt and marginal acceptance for those deemed “unworthy” (Reference to Wayne’s World). The tolerance by the “show-me, blow-me elite,” is based solely on the need for box-stuffing collective voting and trash commercialism from birth to death. Stop. Yes, stop reading this and think long and hard about those “tightly” used words of truthful sarcasm.

On A Hill Far Away, Stood A…

Only by reaffirming a universal commitment to truth and reason can America maintain and grow its position of the shining star and beacon of hope to all on this glob we call earth. The future truly lies in the bedrock of informed, engaged, and intelligent citizens, willing to work together to address the true needs and challenges of our days and the many days beyond. And as for self-importance, life begins at conception, ends at death. Each day is good if one goes to sleep. Each night is good if one wakes. The alternative is not good. It’s that simple and repeated by billions each day, until it isn’t.

Haters

For those who found this mean-spirited and members of the too long to read (TLDR) club, Mike Judge may have an “extra” role for you in “Idiocracy Too.” For me, the meaningless are dead to me.

Also…

When writing for the American citizen, I use a relaxed form of conversational English. My aim is to communicate ideas effectively, not to impress with formal style perfection. Conversational English allows me to connect on a relatable level, fostering understanding and encouraging meaningful dialogue. The ways and means of writing differ based on the formality of the situation; this is not a formal setting.