How the Media Can Help Fight Truth Decay

Truth Decay is the diminishing role of facts and analysis in American public life. As part of this phenomenon, Americans are losing faith in once-trusted sources of information, including the news. How might media organizations address this?

RAND leaders and media experts discussed this topic at a “Truth Decay and the Media” panel on February 20, 2020, at RAND's Santa Monica headquarters. Panelists included Michael D. Rich, RAND's president and chief executive officer; Jennifer Kavanagh, leader of RAND's Countering Truth Decay initiative; Wendy McMahon, president of ABC Owned Television Stations; and Norman Pearlstine, executive editor of the Los Angeles Times. Willow Bay, dean of USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, moderated.

Content

Featured Speakers

Willow Bay

Willow Bay

Dean, USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism

Michael D. Rich

Michael D. Rich

President and Chief Executive Officer, RAND Corporation

Wendy McMahon

Wendy McMahon

President, ABC Owned Television Stations

Norman Pearlstine

Norman Pearlstine

Executive Editor, Los Angeles Times

Jennifer Kavanagh

Political Scientist, RAND Corporation; Associate Director, Strategy, Doctrine, and Resources Program, RAND Arroyo Center; Professor, Pardee RAND Graduate School

Learn More

  • Panelists discuss how media organizations can help address "Truth Decay," the diminishing role of facts and analysis in American public life, at the RAND Corporation office in Santa Monica, CA, February 25, 2020, photo by Diane Baldwin/RAND Corporation

    Blog

    How the Media Can Help Fight Truth Decay

    Feb 25, 2020

    "Truth Decay" is the diminishing role of facts and analysis in U.S. public life. As part of this phenomenon, Americans are losing faith in once-trusted sources of information, including the news. What could media organizations do to address this?

  • Person scrolling through the news on a smartphone, photo by Adobe Stock/terovesalaine

    Report

    News in a Digital Age: Comparing the Presentation of Information over Time and Across Platforms

    May 14, 2019

    Jennifer Kavanagh, William Marcellino, et al.

    In what ways has news reporting in print, on television, and online changed over the last 30 years? Overall, there has been a shift toward more-subjective reporting, but many of the changes have been subtle.

  • Woman using smartphone

    Tool

    What's Being Done to Fight Disinformation Online

    Nov 12, 2019

    With the rise of the internet and social media, false or intentionally misleading information can spread further and faster than ever before. What tools exist to fight disinformation online?

  • Truth Decay title on public space with people and information

    Project

    Countering Truth Decay

    Jan 16, 2018

    “Truth Decay,” the diminishing role of facts in public life, poses a threat to evidence-based policymaking and to American democracy. RAND is studying this phenomenon to learn more about its causes, consequences, and potential solutions.

  • Audio Podcast of Truth Decay Event at RAND

    Multimedia

    Truth Decay and the Media

    May 8, 2018

    In this Events @ RAND podcast, a panel of experts discusses the connection between the media and Truth Decay. They address the effects of changes in the information environment, including the rise of social media, the shift to a 24-hour news cycle, increasing partisanship of some news sources, algorithms and filters, and media literacy.