It’s a grim time for truth.
We have entered a strange new world dominated by fake news — intentional misinformation and disinformation campaigns — by deliberate hoaxes and the slander of solid, verifiable facts as false, not to mention the maligning of individual journalists.
This world has been taking shape for a while as people tuned out, were turned off, or succumbed to blind political tribalism or even, simply, to distraction.
Disinterest and complacency are rapidly being replaced by anxiety and alarm. A reported surge in newspaper subscriptions following the election, though, may reflect support for responsible, vigorous, and accurate investigative journalism and an awareness of its critical role in the health of our democracy.
New Jersey Hills Media Group Opinion (by Linda Stamato), January 27, 2017