新媒网 · 跨境数据社区

We live in an era where speaking before knowing the facts has become the norm. Too often, people rush to say something only to backtrack and clarify later. For those who grew up in the social media age, speaking because they believe something—whether or not it’s true—is all too common. There was a time in America when most people got their news from just three networks, each carefully vetting its sources. Walter Cronkite, known as the most trusted reporter of his time, would sign off with, “And that’s the way it is.” President Lyndon Johnson famously said, “If I’ve lost Cronkite, I’ve lost middle America.” Not long after, Johnson announced he wouldn’t seek reelection. Times have changed—and not always for the better. The trust, discipline, and accountability that once defined news and public discourse have eroded in favor of speed, opinion, and influence. It’s a shift that forces us to reflect on the cost of losing a shared sense of truth.