The former Guardian editor details a revolution in journalism. Can it still perform its vital, truth-telling role?Truth is a small word liable to sanctimonious overuse and philosophical dispute, but in its humblest sense of accurate and verifiable information we like to think we know it when we see it. In Alan Rusbridger’s view, journalism should be among its leading providers: societies depend on good journalism to distinguish fact from fiction, to form a realistic view of their problems and futures. And here, he writes, a little hopefully, Donald Trump may have done journalism a favour. In his cavalier disregard for truth, Trump has reminded the rest of us why we need it. That’s the good news. The bad news is that digital technology and the web have created “the most prodigious capability for spreading lies the world has ever seen”, while the economics that support truth-seeking journalism have never looked feebler. To adapt the dictum of one of Rusbridger’s predecessors: bad facts are free and good ones expensive.As editor of the Guardian from 1995 to 2015, Rusbridger published investigations and campaigns that will rank high in any history of journalism. He reprises some of them in this book: the long and patient inquiry by Nick Davies into the tabloid press’s criminal habit of phone hacking; the revelations of mass government surveillance by Edward Snowden; the “keep it in the ground” campaign to encourage institutions to disinvest in fossil fuels. Their effects... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2018-09-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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By Joe Wilcox, Betanews Sadly, I must reaffirm my position stated during Apple CEO Steve Jobs' last medical leave, in January 2009: His health situation isn't a private matter, and, frankly, it's even less so now. The seeming suddenness of Jobs' more recent medical leave, which this time is... Continue reading at Betanews
[ Betanews | 2011-01-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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By Tim Conneally, Betanews Responding to widespread civil unrest, the government of Egypt on Thursday evening ordered all private network operators to shut down their services, both wired and wireless.At around 12:30am local time, Egypt's outbound connections to the Internet hit a brick wall,... Continue reading at Betanews
[ Betanews | 2011-01-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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