Opinion journalism keeps the lights on. But at what cost? | Alice Dreger | Big Think

TL;DR

Knowing what's real is crucial for making informed decisions and avoiding misinformation, especially in areas like politics, healthcare, and the environment.

Transcript

It's important for us to know what's real in the world and if we're going to be making decisions about our own lives or about healthcare policy, environmental policy, what to eat, what to do in terms of medications, we need to know what reality is – that way we're not constantly smacking ourselves up against it. It is true, certainly in politics, t... Read More

Key Insights

• 🧑‍🏭 Scholars and experts can help distinguish between fact and fiction, and there is an increasing interest in relying on their guidance.
• 🤔 Polarization in politics has led to a rise in think tanks dedicated to factual information.
• 🖐️ Trustworthy sources like Wikipedia and fact-checking organizations play a role in helping individuals determine what is true.
• 🧑‍🏭 Financial support for nonpartisan fact-checking systems is crucial to their survival and availability.
• 💁 The prevalence of opinion sharing over factual article sharing poses a challenge in spreading accurate information.

Questions & Answers

Q: How can we ensure we are aware of what is true?

It is challenging to navigate the abundance of information, but trusted sources like Wikipedia, Snopes, and fact-checking websites such as factcheck.org can help. However, financial support for these sources is crucial for their survival.

Q: Why are people more inclined to share opinion pieces rather than factual articles?

People tend to share content that aligns with their opinions and provides analysis that supports their views. This poses a challenge as factual information tends to take a backseat to opinion pieces when it comes to sharing.

Q: How can fact-checking contribute to a more informed society?

Fact-checking plays a vital role in holding politicians and organizations accountable by scrutinizing their claims for accuracy. Local newspapers, like the one in East Lansing, engage in fact-checking to provide the public with reliable information.

Q: Why do newspapers focus more on opinion pieces?

Newspapers often prioritize opinion pieces because they attract more readers and generate revenue. Many subscribers are drawn to the opinions and editorials rather than pure factual reporting.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• It is essential to discern truth from fiction in order to make well-informed decisions in our lives and in areas such as healthcare and environmental policy.

• Scholars and experts can play a role in helping to differentiate between what is real and what is false.

• Increasing polarization has led to a rise in think tanks dedicated to facts and a growing interest in getting closer to reality.