It’s what I call “the indexing problem”. The larger the amount of data that we are offered for consumption, the more we really need to have quality professionals to curate that data: To create an index of usefulness. When I was growing up, those were the newspaper editors… and the professional reporters. They really believed in the importance of their service, and worked hard to make it as good as possible. Now, we have “crowd sourced indexing” and the providers of the service (Google, Bing, etc) basically sell clicks to advertisers. The more you click through, the more they get. That has little to do with the intrinsic quality of what you’re seeing, and much to do with the immediate visceral “must … click … through …” response.
And don’t get me started on “social media” which seems to be mainly a device for reinforcing your own opinions with very little corrective power. Seriously: Do you read stuff you disagree with?
It used to be a chore to post a letter to the editor, that would be edited for content and length.. if it even saw the light of day. Now.. we are all capable of actually writing editorials and sharing our wisdom from the comfort of the bathroom throne.
An informed public is a better public.. trumps pontifications and sage advice are inspirations to the world.. Ha!
Sadly, there are very, very few “local” papers anymore. The vast majority of them are own by a big corporation and there is no difference in the articles or “news” that is printed. No actual research, no corruption investigations, no shining of light on the hidden inner workings, and so many are just filled with an unending political bias (of either side) that permeates everything.
No wonder they closed. Nevermind that they thought the internet was a joke and a fluke and lost their chance to evolve with the times.
Like all intelligent people, I read a vast amount of things I disagree with—or used to disagree with, or will (in future) disagree with. It’s called learning, and it’s called LIFE.
Dtroutma over 4 years ago
Not so much fake, as just bad home brew on the web.
Concretionist over 4 years ago
It’s what I call “the indexing problem”. The larger the amount of data that we are offered for consumption, the more we really need to have quality professionals to curate that data: To create an index of usefulness. When I was growing up, those were the newspaper editors… and the professional reporters. They really believed in the importance of their service, and worked hard to make it as good as possible. Now, we have “crowd sourced indexing” and the providers of the service (Google, Bing, etc) basically sell clicks to advertisers. The more you click through, the more they get. That has little to do with the intrinsic quality of what you’re seeing, and much to do with the immediate visceral “must … click … through …” response.
And don’t get me started on “social media” which seems to be mainly a device for reinforcing your own opinions with very little corrective power. Seriously: Do you read stuff you disagree with?
Richard S Russell Premium Member over 4 years ago
I’m pretty sure we can still trust the sports scores.
Daeder over 4 years ago
We need to regain control of our information and its sources if we’re ever going to regain the truth.
Liverlips McCracken Premium Member over 4 years ago
Superb year-end cartoon.
moosemin over 4 years ago
Just for some fun, watch Howard Beal’s rant about TV news!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5Gf0VKXk5Q
michaeljwolff over 4 years ago
. . . and cat videos.
Radish the wordsmith over 4 years ago
I’ve been reporting Trump ads on Facebook as lying fakes.
Zebrastripes over 4 years ago
Too much information! Garbage in garbage out!
Alberta Oil Premium Member over 4 years ago
It used to be a chore to post a letter to the editor, that would be edited for content and length.. if it even saw the light of day. Now.. we are all capable of actually writing editorials and sharing our wisdom from the comfort of the bathroom throne.
An informed public is a better public.. trumps pontifications and sage advice are inspirations to the world.. Ha!
"It's the End of the World!!!" Premium Member over 4 years ago
Sadly, there are very, very few “local” papers anymore. The vast majority of them are own by a big corporation and there is no difference in the articles or “news” that is printed. No actual research, no corruption investigations, no shining of light on the hidden inner workings, and so many are just filled with an unending political bias (of either side) that permeates everything.
No wonder they closed. Nevermind that they thought the internet was a joke and a fluke and lost their chance to evolve with the times.
Godfreydaniel over 4 years ago
Like all intelligent people, I read a vast amount of things I disagree with—or used to disagree with, or will (in future) disagree with. It’s called learning, and it’s called LIFE.
Andylit Premium Member over 4 years ago
The new looks just like the print versions of the NYT and WaPo. Digital hasn’t changed the nature of their “reporting”.