Misinformation remains a difficult situation to navigate for news organizations. NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt believes the media industry needs to lead the fight against it.
During an address at the Media Institute’s Free Speech America Gala Thursday, LeGeyt argued for the industry’s attention to the growing problem.
“The challenges have never been greater while the stakes have never been higher. The credibility of responsible fact-based journalism is under daily attack. Meanwhile, our society is under siege by the relentless tide of misinformation online,” said LeGeyt. “This creates a double-edged sword where the simple fact of reporting the truth can often be perceived (or at least characterized) as taking a side or having a bias.”
Curtis LeGeyt continued by noting that fighting misinformation remains paramount for the public perception surrounding the media industry.
“We know that this misinformation, and the resulting distrust, have dire consequences. We experience it in our daily lives, whether it’s in our communities, amongst our friends and coworkers, or at a Thanksgiving dinner. How many of these simmering disagreements could have been prevented if we were working off a common set of facts?
“The public must be able to rely on us. If we aren’t working every day to push back on these challenges, no one is,” concluded LeGeyt. “We all need to up our game and be relentless to ensure that future generations can access and easily identify factual news and information, the very information that keeps us safe and helps us make informed decisions.”
“It may seem daunting. But the simple, undeniable truth is that what you do — trusted journalism — is the antidote to misinformation. And given the divisiveness in Congress and potential tsunami of political attacks that will accompany the upcoming election season, America’s leadership may need to come from our newsrooms delivered in the form of facts.”
