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

Dean, USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism

Michael D. Rich

President and Chief Executive Officer, RAND Corporation

Wendy McMahon

President, ABC Owned Television Stations

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

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Blog
How the Media Can Help Fight Truth Decay
"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?
Feb 25, 2020
Report
News in a Digital Age: Comparing the Presentation of Information over Time and Across Platforms
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.
May 14, 2019
Jennifer Kavanagh, William Marcellino, et al.
Tool
What's Being Done to Fight Disinformation Online
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?
Nov 12, 2019
Project
Countering Truth Decay
“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.
Jan 16, 2018
Multimedia
Truth Decay and the Media
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.
May 8, 2018