Real News, Fake News, and How Journalism Can Save Democracy

There’s a good reason totalitarian nations don’t allow freedom of the press, or why a former U.S. President labeled the press an “enemy of the people.” It’s because good journalism and a free democracy draw strength from each other. When one fails, or is deliberately targeted for destruction, the other is likely to also be a casualty. Despite its criticality to a free society, there’s a myopic distrust of the news by swathes of the electorate, and journalism – especially local journalism – is struggling in the U.S., with many small-market outlets across the country closing for good. Meanwhile, more Americans than ever are getting their news online or through social media, with its enormous potential for deception. As we approach a pivotal election both nationally and in Ohio, what role will journalists and their profession play in keeping American democracy in fighting trim? How can journalists engage an increasingly polarized audience without seeming to take sides? What’s the connection between strong media literacy and active citizenship? We’ll dive into the importance of a free press, the key tools to use to evaluate information sources and discern credible news, and the role journalism plays in keeping our democracy vigorous.

Featuring Michael Shearer, Executive Editor, The Columbus Dispatch; Dr. Kelly Garrett, Director, School of Communication, The Ohio State University; Rita McNeil Danish, CEO, Signal Ohio, with Moderator Rodney Dunigan, Assistant News Director, WSYX ABC 6.