Cory Morgan: The Media Should Strive to Build Trust with the Public

September 28, 2024 TruthUSA

Commentary

Access to information is more prevalent now than at any other point in history, literally at people’s fingertips. However, along with this access comes an increase in misinformation.

Media outlets have the responsibility of sifting through countless breaking news events to offer citizens a concise and accurate summary. Unfortunately, many media sources have been failing in this task, leading to a loss of trust among the public. This trend is concerning, especially during polarized elections when informed decisions are crucial.

Bias in media outlets is not a new phenomenon. Historically, newspapers, radio, and television stations have leaned editorially. What set them apart was the clear separation between news and opinion sections, maintaining trust. Today, this line has blurred, making it challenging for citizens to differentiate between news and opinion, resulting in a loss of trust.

Media providers lack the resources they once had. Many newspapers have disappeared, and those remaining are mere shadows of their former selves. Television and radio stations are also facing cutbacks as the audience shifts to streaming services. With fewer staff members creating content, biases become more apparent, further fueling mistrust among consumers.

While new independent media organizations are emerging, it’s challenging for the public to determine which ones offer reliable content. Individuals may create websites that appear credible but are actually driven by personal agendas. Larger startups may have quality content but struggle to attract audiences and generate revenue with poor organization and presentation online, contributing to the cluttered market.

Instead of focusing on news reporting, media outlets often fall into sensationalism to attract clicks. This shift inadvertently trains outlets to prioritize sensational content over important but less attention-grabbing issues due to limited resources.

Government intervention, such as subsidies and market controls, has helped some outlets survive. However, this intervention further erodes public trust. Outlets relying on subsidies may avoid criticizing the government to maintain funding, fostering a perception of bias towards government messaging. Polls show that people tend to reject outlets receiving government subsidies.

Attempts to make large social media platforms subsidize media backfired, leading to unintended consequences like platforms withdrawing support for Canadian media outlets.

The evolution of media must happen organically. People will gravitate towards trusted outlets, fostering business development through subscription services rather than government subsidies. Consumers value reliable information and are willing to subscribe to trusted sources. Accountability to audiences will drive outlets to improve their practices, ensuring credibility and trust.

As Canada enters an election year, the challenge lies in discerning accurate coverage. With time and healthy competition, media outlets will evolve to provide principled news coverage, necessitating less government involvement in the industry for sustained credibility.

Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

Source link