Throughout my career as a newspaper and public radio editor, I always referred to myself as “proud journalist.” Proud meaning that it was an honor to serve the public by communicating truth – and, yes, holding power accountable. But public perception – distrust and even loathing of journalists and their work -- has clearly challenged that pride in my chosen … [Read more...] about ‘Trust Project’ sets standards to help readers assess credibility of journalism
Opinion
Bill of Rights makes us freest nation
The Bill of Rights has helped create what is arguably the freest enduring society in history. It wasn’t always that way. The original Constitution didn’t have a Bill of Rights. Once the Bill of Rights was added, it didn’t apply for a century to state governments. As recently as 90 years ago, no one had won a First Amendment free speech case against the … [Read more...] about Bill of Rights makes us freest nation
‘We live in an era of bombasity because there’s no political upside to acting with humility’
When I reflect on all that has happened, there are certainly reasons to be discouraged. For six years, I've watched politicians foment hatred and mistrust of the press, demonizing us with the label "enemy of the people." The stream of lies and disinformation has become a flood. And now our democracy has reached a new low, with a former U.S. president this week calling for the … [Read more...] about ‘We live in an era of bombasity because there’s no political upside to acting with humility’
Coming of age on Kristallnacht
My Bar Mizvah in Berlin, Germany, was scheduled for Saturday, November 12, 1938. However, the night of November 9 lasting through November 10, Nazis launched a night and day of terror attacks against Jews in Germany and Austria. The Nazi’s attacks were revenge for the killing of Ernst vom Rath on November 7, 1938, who was at work at the German embassy in Paris when Herschel … [Read more...] about Coming of age on Kristallnacht
As most trusted news sources, local outlets can do more to promote media literacy, especially around elections
The success of election-deniers in the Midterm Elections shows just how much work confronts us in our efforts to increase media literacy in the US. As happened in primary contests in August, candidates who promoted the Republican Party’s so-called “big lie” that the 2020 election was stolen did well again, although the anticipated red wave did not appear to have … [Read more...] about As most trusted news sources, local outlets can do more to promote media literacy, especially around elections