The column below reflects the views of the author, and these opinions are neither endorsed nor supported by WisOpinion.com.
Newspaper readership has been trending down for many years, network news viewership is on the decline, and confusion over what is true or false is only increasing with the advent of AI and unverified social media content. It’s no wonder why we have become a much more polarized society! We often are not discussing issues from a shared body of evidence.
“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts,” said U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan. The late senator’s words were prophetic.
What’s more, public opinion polling shows deep public distrust with the news media, as more of us retreat to our ideological camps. The fact that President Trump excoriates reporters on a regular basis doesn’t help. He belittles reporters, especially female ones, accuses others of being stupid and generally labels any reported information he dislikes as “fake news.” His ultimate cut is to label journalists “enemies of the people,” a phrase commonly used by dictators.
There are so many social media outlets offering “information,” it has become more difficult for legitimate news outlets to operate, as readers and viewers go elsewhere. Their advertising revenues decline as a result, and it becomes more challenging to cover the issues that our society needs covered.
When you get your news from journalists, you’re supporting professionals and companies dedicated to accuracy, fairness and balance. Yes, reporters can and do fall short, but for the most part, these are people who take their jobs seriously. They can get fired or sued if they get it wrong. What consequences are there for other content creators who recklessly disseminate unfounded claims? Journalists are not in the business of advocacy. Rather, journalism’s mission is to inform with credible sources, background and evidence. Readers, viewers and listeners then evaluate what they’ve learned and make up their own minds.
But that’s becoming harder to do with AI-generated fake content, a deluge of advocacy media and general public apathy, not knowing what media to trust. This is an overwhelming societal problem, but it’s not insurmountable. We can dedicate ourselves to relying only on credible, sourced information. It is out there, but it’s not always free.
Here are some suggestions that will increase your chances of being informed, rather than manipulated:
- Subscribe to a newspaper, many of which have been publishing since the 1850s or earlier.
- Get your information from multiple news outlets, including radio, TV, print and web journalism. Compare what you are reading and hearing.
- Think twice before sharing “information” you see on social media. Is it sourced?
Nobody knows where our information society is going, but one thing is for sure. Each of us has the power to be more discerning about where we get our “news.”
Steve Busalacchi is a former Wisconsin Public Radio reporter. He discussed the importance of journalism at a Nov. 9, 2026, Madison South Rotary Club meeting. See slides from his presentation below.