"Rather than hope for a return of a more trusting public we should work for a more equitably sceptical one. Do not trust us. In fact, don’t easily trust anyone. Let doubt proliferate." —Jelani Cobb, Dean of Columbia Journalism School. reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/news/full-te... 2/ - ThreadSky

jayrosen.bsky.social • 12 days ago

"Rather than hope for a return of a more trusting public we should work for a more equitably sceptical one. Do not trust us. In fact, don’t easily trust anyone. Let doubt proliferate." —Jelani Cobb, Dean of Columbia Journalism School. https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/news/full-text-jelani-cobbs-2025-reuters-memorial-lecture-trust-issues-credibility-credulity-and 2/

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democraticrepublic.bsky.social•12 days ago

agreed. media is a complicit, criminal, mafia.

that is all.

everything you read: first reaction is, that it is propaganda.

melanienewfield.bsky.social•12 days ago

Powerful words. As a public servant whose role was advisory, I've frequently encountered colleagues who complained that they weren't trusted by decision makers. But trust isn't an entitlement. Earn it. Act in a trustworth manner. US media certainly hasn't.

churchlady320.bsky.social•12 days ago

This is outstanding and very much worth reading. Now, if only his peers and students will adopt his guidance.

jayrosen.bsky.social•12 days ago

"I'd rather have a questioning audience... I think we should [dry] our eyes about the loss of traditional trust, and figure out how we're going to rebuild in some ways a more adult relationship. —Mark Thompson, CNN's editor-in-chief and CEO. https://www.google.com/search?q=Semafor%27s+%22Innovating+to+Restore+Trust+in+News%22+CNN%E2%80%99s+Mark+Thompson&oq=Semafor%27s+%22Innovating+to+Restore+Trust+in+News%22+CNN%E2%80%99s+Mark+Thompson&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIGCAEQRRg90gEKMTQ5MDdqMGoxNagCCLACAfEFVd6Nv3vzLcHxBVXejb978y3B&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:a7add00d,vid:fzT-hbKR_UU,st:0

3/

flannerydean.bsky.social•12 days ago

Always going to read jelani cobb on anything. To expand rather than contract, I really believe the industry should strive for more adult dynamic with readers and frankly its workers.

flannerydean.bsky.social•12 days ago

Carole cadwallader has also recently written about how the industry needs to face this moment with different approaches on her Substack

jayrosen.bsky.social•12 days ago

Thanks, Dean.

gargalorian.bsky.social•12 days ago

Is that why CNN pushed Acosta out the door and gave Jennings a new contract with a big pay raise? To rebuild a more adult relationship?

braddeltan.bsky.social•11 days ago

Thinking even more about this: one could argue the problem is that right-wing media has already done this. They've already cult-ified some 40mil ppl into questioning *everything* from experts already. To say that we want to make the audience more skeptical is to say the MSM will do the same thing.

braddeltan.bsky.social•11 days ago

Yeah, I'm sorry Jay but I just don't buy it. I like the counter-factual thinking. I like the willingness to blow it up and rebuild it. But I just don't see this working. I think more trust is needed, period. Not less. We're at war, after all, and you don't win wars by encouraging skeptics.

braddeltan.bsky.social•12 days ago

How does one square the circle that in the wake of traditional advertising drying up, and the move to a more membership model (a la NPR), I would think a skeptical audience would be far far far less willing to subscribe/donate to pay for that journalism...? 🤔

jayrosen.bsky.social•12 days ago

Good point.

I suppose one way of squaring the circle is to reinterpret what Jelani Cobb is saying, to mean: don't trust us or any other newsroom at the outset, or by reputation. Make us earn it over time, and then, if and when you're satisfied, you might consider supporting us with your dollars.

braddeltan.bsky.social•12 days ago

Hmmm. Perhaps. It's a good idea in the abstract. But I feel like that assumes people are starting from a fairly neutral location. But we all know they're not. They're in a cult. The cult of Fox News and OANN and Alex Jones, et al. We gotta de-program them first. How the heck do we do that?

braddeltan.bsky.social•12 days ago

Thinking more: For a long time we used to joke that NPR's audience was in a cult of public radio. Maybe we need to "lean in" to that concept more? 🤷

This is, admittedly, going down a road that's almost the exact *opposite* of what Cobb is suggesting, though. Not helpful at the moment, I know.

olbermann.bsky.social•12 days ago

I guess that's why Thompson's turned over primetime to Scott Jennings - so no one trusts CNN

suzannecloud.bsky.social•12 days ago

When are you going to comment about Schumer and the rest of the traitorous Dems on Countdown. (Love your podcast!)

lynxsl.bsky.social•12 days ago

Maybe I'm imagining it, but I think that was Thursday's pod.

I'll bet he'll say more on Monday's

suzannecloud.bsky.social•12 days ago

I don't think he did that yet since the vote was Friday.

howdini.bsky.social•11 days ago

Just wondering…did you ever apologize to Brian Deer for smearing him on your show after he exposed Andrew Wakefield for the fraud that he is? I ask in good faith: I liked you before that incident, you totally lost me, and many others, at it.

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