We need experts that are knowledgeable on issues who can put them in context for lay readers.

In the past, those were often beat reporters, but academics can fit that role too.

With the collapse of traditional media hegemonies companies we’ve lost beat reporters, so we have to rely on third party experts. Of course, there are problems with that: if they’re owned by bad actors, then they can spread misleading narratives.

I’m not sure who fills that role now. Whoever can tweet the most convincingly at journalists? Whoever makes the sexiest YouTube explainer?

😂^(we’re screwed)

In a world where every person is free to share their opinion directly to a mass audience, *we need trusted experts in various fields more than ever.

No, they’re not necessarily going to be concentrated only in traditional media, but if I’m looking something up real quick, I’m more likely to trust some random author on a real news site than some random author on social media. Maybe I’d still get wrong information sometimes, but the odds are better.

Agree with the others - in a world where every person can freely share their direct opinion, it is more critical than ever to have individuals whose role it is to research, contextualize, and present the issue in a constructive and clear fashion.

The problem of media capture by various groups is an issue, certainly, but that means it’s something we have to be wary of and build boundaries against - because the key role they serve is still in place. Throwing out the entire system because of that issue is like deciding that we no longer need doctors because the for-profit medical system is broken.

Yes, similar to the web of trust, there exists a web of trust for people based on reputation. Journalistic integrity, openness, scrutiny; these are just a few of the things that go away when experts go away.

People who dedicate their lives to truth should be recognized as such, and those who lie should be recognized as well. Outsourcing your information gathering to “randoms” just means that you will be swayed by whoever can afford the best bot farm.

And if you think you are unswayable, you are the perfect target.

Follow those who express curiosity, welcome questioning, and conduct themselves in good faith. It’s an iterative process, you don’t have to resolve it in a day.