What is the difference between a fact and a finding?

[Syne]

Nowadays the skills in distinguishing fact from finding/opinion are even needed when we read news stories, which are increasingly biased and has led to a huge drop in public trust of the press.

[Leigha]

That is true, but I wonder if some of this is due to a shift in what many people value, honestly. It seems that the average news ''consumer'' prefers opinion, rumor and gossip, over factual news stories. :/

[Syne]

If it was what people valued that led to this, why would trust of the press have dropped so precipitously? If you assume a very large majority of people just prefer echo chambers, they wouldn't necessarily lose trust in the press...unless the echo chamber the majority of the press maintains doesn't actually coincide with the views of the majority of people.

I just see no evidence that consumer preference preceded loss of trust.

[Leigha]

The irony is that people's preferences towards gossip, hearsay and opinion over facts has resulted in the mainstream media becoming an untrustworthy industry. But, the media is driven by ratings. The majority of the American public might not trust the media, but they are still entertained by it. If that weren't the case, the media wouldn't be driven by viewer/listener ratings. That actually trumps facts these days.

[Syne]

Yet journalism outlets have taken a huge hit in revenue (which equals ratings) that corresponds with decreasing trust. If people were just as satisfied with the gossip (or even drove the change), why would the revenue drop so much? So while people may be entertained, fewer of them are willing to pay for entertainment over actual journalism. The media is desperate since they lost so much trust, so they are doing every salacious and sensational thing they can think of to regain viewer...when in reality only a long slog back to trustworthiness will restore even half their lost revenue.

[scheherazade]

Yet journalism outlets have taken a huge hit in revenue (which equals ratings) that corresponds with decreasing trust. If people were just as satisfied with the gossip (or even drove the change), why would the revenue drop so much? So while people may be entertained, fewer of them are willing to pay for entertainment over actual journalism. The media is desperate since they lost so much trust, so they are doing every salacious and sensational thing they can think of to regain viewer...when in reality only a long slog back to trustworthiness will restore even half their lost revenue.

I would suggest that much of that revenue previously came from advertising and people are now able to create their own avenues for raising awareness via web pages, social media and forums so there is little reason for individuals to buy space through journalism outlets.

Friends own a local newspaper and the sale of the paper itself is purely incidental to the revenue from the advertising. Free classifieds for individuals and non-profit organizations is the hook and government and business buy space for their advertisements, announcements and pronouncements. They produce an actual newspaper as well as an on-line version and report on local, regional and national news and events.

Communication, by any medium, is an investment of time and energy toward a purpose and in today's world, the end justifies the means where profit or votes may be in the balance. Logic would suggest that trustworthiness should be the foundation of any such undertaking, yet historically, sales are driven by catering to either our fears or our desires, both in advertising and in message content.

From how we get reports on the news, weather, apply for even mundane jobs, or sell our personal effects, the internet has become the front runner in this fairly remote part of the world. The situation may be quite different in other regions.

[Syne]

I would suggest that much of that revenue previously came from advertising and people are now able to create their own avenues for raising awareness via web pages, social media and forums so there is little reason for individuals to buy space through journalism outlets.

Friends own a local newspaper and the sale of the paper itself is purely incidental to the revenue from the advertising. Free classifieds for individuals and non-profit organizations is the hook and government and business buy space for their advertisements, announcements and pronouncements. They produce an actual newspaper as well as an on-line version and report on local, regional and national news and events.

Communication, by any medium, is an investment of time and energy toward a purpose and in today's world, the end justifies the means where profit or votes may be in the balance. Logic would suggest that trustworthiness should be the foundation of any such undertaking, yet historically, sales are driven by catering to either our fears or our desires, both in advertising and in message content.

From how we get reports on the news, weather, apply for even mundane jobs, or sell our personal effects, the internet has become the front runner in this fairly remote part of the world. The situation may be quite different in other regions.

Advertising does not exist in a bubble. A news outlet can only sell advertizing if they can offer the views for that advertizing. So while they don't make much money directly from subscriptions, all their revenue is dependent on readers. If news outlets could retain the eyes, they would always find willing advertisers. New advertising strategies have only been necessitated by the drop in traditional viewership. Businesses are not eager to try new and untested strategies unless forced to do so.

And local news fares better than journalism in general.

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