• by Tom Hespos , March 17, 2003

Dear National News Media:

I just thought I’d write you a letter to let you know how disappointed I am in your coverage of world events. Ten years ago, I would have taken the word of CNN or The New York Times as gospel. These days, I’m a lot more skeptical.

I’m a big believer in the marketplace of ideas theory. That is, as Americans, we are confronted with bits of information every day, both fact and opinion. As this information circulates, truth is separated from falsehood as we judge the validity of facts and arguments presented to us. By and large, the marketplace of ideas serves the public well, unless it is tainted by media hegemony. But I’ll get back to that in a minute…

I had high hopes for interactive media and the impact I expected them to have on the news media. The low cost of putting up a website or hosting a mailing list turned a lot of ordinary people into publishers. I expected this to broaden and diversify the marketplace of ideas, making it even more beneficial to Americans. Interactive media were to have positive impact on every aspect of the news business, from newsgathering to news dissemination.

Instead, the transformative effects of the Internet in part led to an increased pressure on the part of the news media to be “first.” That is, being the first to report a story seems to have taken precedence over accuracy and representation of dissenting fact or opinion. Stories are being covered superficially. Some important facts are left out altogether.

Citizens of a democracy need to be informed in order to carry out their duty to their country effectively. We cannot make educated decisions without the information necessary to do so, and it is this vital function that the news media fulfill. The U.S. is on the brink of war, and now, more than ever, we need the best information we can get in order to make morally correct decisions regarding the best course of action.

Why then, are the news media engaging in an unprecedented degree of cooperation with the government? It appears as if no mainstream media outlets are making a concerted effort to get to the bottom of the issues surrounding the potential conflict in Iraq. You are being spoon-fed information and it seems you’re happy to pass it along to the end consumer. One of you has chosen to make its slogan “We report. You decide.” That’s great when there’s a marketplace of ideas from which to discern the truth. But when news media regurgitate whatever the government feeds it out of fear of losing its “access,” this does more harm than good.

I urge you to place less emphasis on being “first.” Instead, remember the values that made news organizations like CNN, The New York Times and The Washington Post great in the first place – accuracy, balanced reporting and a willingness to question everything. America is depending on you to provide the truth.