✍️ Why I Still Trust the News (Mostly)
Avoiding echo chambers, resisting false equivalence
These days, trust in the news media feels shakier than ever. Polls show confidence in journalism at historic lows, and disinformation—now supercharged by AI—spreads faster than fact-checkers can keep up.
Against that backdrop, it’s tempting to throw up our hands and assume the whole system is broken.
But I don’t buy it.
No news outlet is perfect. No reporter is free of bias. But good journalism still exists. And we can identify it.
Avoiding the Echo Chamber
Here’s something I’ve learned over decades of working in journalism and government: If we rely on only news and analysis that confirm what we already believe, we may end up misinformed—or worse, stuck in an echo chamber.
I don’t pretend to be a perfectly balanced or objective news consumer. I’ll admit it, and you may already know: I am a progressive activist and Democrat. And The Nation has been my go-to journal for strong progressive analysis for 40 years.
But I also know that relying on just one side—even one I respect—limits my understanding. That’s why I also make a point of reading fact-reporting sources closer to the center and, at times, peeking at how the right is framing issues.
The goal isn’t to agree with or accept what they’re reporting. It’s to stay informed and aware.
Most fact-based, in-depth reporting and analysis (as compared with opinion-based commentary) usually comes from outlets closer to the center (even the center-left). They’re not the flashiest or the loudest, but they do the hard work of verification, context, and accountability.
That’s the kind of journalism we need more of—especially now.
False Equivalence Isn’t Fairness
To be clear: Fairness in journalism doesn’t mean treating all claims as equal. Facts matter—and sometimes one side of a story is simply wrong.
Responsible reporting includes calling out misinformation (inaccuracies) and disinformation (lies) clearly, not giving them equal weight just to appear “balanced.” Journalism training taught me—and my experience confirmed—that accuracy is at least as important as objectivity, balance, and fairness.
That’s where media evaluation tools come in. Resources like Ad Fontes Media, NewsGuard and AllSides don’t eliminate subjectivity, but they apply consistent, transparent criteria to help us separate fact-based outlets from those that mainly push a narrative.
Fact-checking websites like FactCheck.org and PolitiFact also play a role. While media-rating services assess the overall credibility and bias of outlets, fact-checkers test the accuracy of individual claims made by politicians, public figures, and viral stories. Together, they help us separate rumor from reality.
I’m not suggesting everyone needs to subscribe to ratings services or analyze news full-time. But we can all benefit from seeking out diverse, fact-based sources—especially those that don’t always reflect our personal biases. We should also keep an open mind to tools that help us understand the broader media landscape.
These tools don’t always agree, but when used together, they form a helpful toolkit for navigating today’s complex media environment. They can keep us grounded in facts—not just headlines—while reminding us to question, compare, and think critically.
Trust in the media isn’t about blind faith. It’s about earned credibility—built through transparency, accuracy, and accountability.
In a democracy, we can’t afford to give up on the idea that someone is at least trying to report the truth. That’s why, despite the flaws, I still trust the news—mostly.
Resources for digging deeper
If you’d like to explore the tools I’ve mentioned—and others that support stronger journalism—these guides can help:
Evaluating the Evaluators — A guide to media analysis and bias-rating tools.
The Truth Toolkit — Where to find reliable fact-checking resources.
Local Journalism & Independent News Media — Advocacy groups protecting journalism and sustaining community news.
See how the media perform here:
Nonprofit News Media — Independent, public-service journalism in a time of pressing change.
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