My column Sunday on journalistsβ challenges in the era of Donald Trump and fake news touched a nerve among readers.
A few times before, Iβve received more emails responding to my columns. But Iβve probably never received so many long, thoughtful, impassioned emails from readers who felt like we were discussing crucial issues. There were several of 1,000 words or more, and the longest one logged in at 2,860 words!
What stuck out to me is the writersβ strong desire for shared facts. But that was coupled with an ideological rigidity in some cases that will probably make agreement on the basic facts difficult or impossible for some years to come.
Add to that this Pew survey result that came out Thursday: 23 percent of Americans polled said they had shared on social media stories that they either knew at the time were fake or that they found out later were fake. Again, here weβre talking about completely made-up news, not stories that may have a slant or a factual error.
But of course, the latest way to criticize journalism you donβt like is to call it βfake news,β even if itβs just journalism presenting facts you donβt like or offering an opinion you disagree with.
In any case, here are some excerpts from your fellow readers:
βThe successful Watergate investigative work by Woodward and Bernstein in the 1970s was the high-water mark for the media since it did uncover illegal activities by Nixon and his staff, leading to Nixonβs resignation. However, since then, the media acts like it is their responsibility to look for any bit of dirt, no matter how trivial, that may be sensationalized and exaggerated and used to destroy ANY Republican presidency. Never is the same degree of diligence applied to Democrat administrations.β
β Tom Fava, Green Valley
βWhat does it mean as a news consumer to have βaccurateβ reporting. Iβll give a very recent example. Mr. Trump recently tweeted (the new news-release format) that Boeing was way over the 4 billion dollar budget for the new Air Force 1 β ending with the words βcancel contract.β Rather than just reporting the tweet as news β the responsibility of a journalist today should be to point out that there is no 4 billion dollar contract in place β only the initial analysis of needs being done by Boeing for far less money. There is no over-budget situation for anything related to the project at this time.β
β Bill Miller, Marana
βI wish journalists would do more fact checking. Considering the fact that a large number of people get all their news on Facebook, and there are plenty of things being posted on there that are totally untrue, I think it is really important to get the truth out there, and separate fact from fiction. It would be wonderful if every day the paper would include a fact check of something that is being circulated on the mass media. Might not change some peopleβs minds, but it would be a step in the right direction.β
β Lois Hostetler, Tucson
βYour column was spot-on. The great βdumbing down of Americaβ has given us Donald Trump. I remember somewhere in the late 70βs or so hearing the βEast Coast, wine-drinking, educated elitists trying to tell us what to doβ mantra emerge. Usually in reference to a Democrat. Today that label has moved to scientists, educators, main-line media and anyone trying to present a thoughtful, common-sense solution to a complex issue.β
β Gail Ruther, Northwest Side
βThe issue is the difference between FACTS & OPINION. As soon as you interject an opinion your writing becomes FAKE NEWS! I donβt give two hoots about your opinion or Rachel Maddowβs opinion any more than you care about mine or Sean Hannityβs. I am however interested in the TRUTH. I no longer believe ANYTHING IN THE NEWSPAPERS. That is the sad fallout from news organizations becoming propaganda arms.β
β Keith Wells, Vail
βBoth Green Party presidential candidates came to Tucson during the 2016 primary election season (Dr. Jill Stein & Kent Mesplay). Press releases and emails were sent to media outlets. Nobody from our local news sources bothered to show up though multiple engagements were offered. ... Seems to me that real news is dished up and ignored, so fake news steps in to fill the void. After all, what crazy person would choose to eat fruits and vegetables when Cheetos and Hot Pockets are so readily available instead? Water instead of carbonated sugary sodas? Puh-lease!β
β Mary DeCamp, Tucson
βWhen the media and truth using facts and data are replaced with lies and ideology, one of the key principles of this country will disappear. Russia is already there, but Turkey is a textbook example of a democracy turning fascist. All political differences are eliminated and the media is taken over by one organization. Opponents are killed, imprisoned or the lucky ones placed in exile. The military swears allegiance to one person ... not the people, and the same puppet-people are elected over and over again. ...β
β Roger V. Engels, Oro Valley
βVery glad you brought up the subject of news, fake news and where MSM is at. It always comes back to the customer, what do they want? Whether it is the Red Star or TV news, talk radio programs or any other outlet, the law of natural selection will favor those who give the customer what he/she wants. Michael Savage is not broadcast in Tucson although he is very popular nationally, for example. So, as much as it pains me, we are getting, collectively, exactly what we are demanding.β
β Steve Wilhelm, Green Valley
