Can the Media help society resolve problems?

Once upon a time, journalism was a discipline of verification. Reporters sought facts, not just quotes. Newsrooms cultivated editorial independence, not just editorial positions. But somewhere along the way, we stopped asking what happened and started asking who’s saying it?

Today, I can hear the headline and tell you the outlet. I can see the spin and name the editor. Tell me the reporter, and I’ll tell you the narrative. What we consume as “news” is often preloaded with opinion, curated to echo the worldview of its audience. Objectivity has become quaint; tribalism sells better.

But is this good for democracy? For public discourse? For the complex challenges humanity faces—from chronic disease to climate to existential threats from artificial intelligence and biotechnology?

And in healthcare? An area I know quite a lot about, I would like to think, the reporting is rarely balanced, accurate, or fair. I can only assume the same applies across other domains I’m less familiar with.

An echo chamber does not edify. It isolates. It entertains, but rarely enlightens. It comforts us with what we already believe, but leaves us ill-prepared for nuance, uncertainty, or dialogue.

We must ask more of our media. And perhaps more importantly, we must ask more of ourselves as consumers of it. Facts still exist. Truth still matters. But it takes effort—and humility—to find it.