Andy Tucker, a media historian at Columbia Journalism School, dissects the evolution of news media. He explores America's media polarization, starting with the late 1960s and the rise of trust in news anchors. The conversation delves into Spiro Agnew's accusations of media bias, sparking a shift towards alternative media and right-wing narratives. Tucker highlights how this has reshaped public discourse and facilitated the rise of disinformation, showing a troubling trajectory from a unified information landscape to today's fragmented ecosystems of conflicting truths.
The polarization of American media has created vastly different information ecosystems that challenge the foundation of democratic consensus and governance.
Historically, a few trusted news sources unified public perception, but the media landscape has shifted towards partisan outlets that exacerbate divisions.
Deep dives
The Polarization of Information Sources
The current media landscape in America is increasingly polarized, with individuals consuming vastly different information that influences their perceptions of reality. This division is reflected in conversations about politics, where people find it difficult to agree on even basic facts. A specific example mentioned is the belief among a significant portion of voters in a stolen presidential election, which is predominantly held by those within one information bubble. This situation raises serious questions about how governance and consensus in a democracy can be achieved when the populace is so divided in their understanding of the world.
Historical Context of Media Trust
In the past, particularly during the 1960s and 1970s, a majority of Americans consumed news from a small number of trusted sources, leading to a more unified understanding of events. Historical accounts reveal that three major television networks dominated viewership, creating a sense of shared reality across political spectrums. This landscape shifted dramatically when figures like Spiro Agnew began accusing mainstream media of bias, causing trust in these outlets to wane. The decline in credibility contributed to the emergence of alternative media sources that offered biased perspectives and targeted specific political audiences.
From Direct Mail to Talk Radio
The rise of right-wing media can be traced back to the successful direct mail campaigns of political figures like Richard Vigery, which capitalized on targeting discontented voters. These campaigns utilized cultural fears and grievances to build a conservative base, paving the way for new forms of media that resonated with this audience. As cable television expanded in the 1980s, figures such as Rush Limbaugh emerged, blending entertainment with political commentary, which further shifted the landscape. Limbaugh's approach showcased how outrage and sensationalism could attract larger audiences and embed a partisan worldview.
The Impact of Fox News
Fox News represents a pivotal moment in the evolution of media by presenting right-wing ideologies under the guise of objective journalism. Its founder, Roger Ailes, aimed to create a network that purported to provide balanced news but ultimately reinforced partisan narratives. Programming on Fox often included familiar faces from talk radio, enhancing its outreach and popularity among conservative audiences. This strategy contributed to a perceived legitimacy for what was increasingly viewed as biased information, leading audiences further down the path of division in how they consume news.
Just a few decades ago most people used — and trusted — the same news sources. Now, Americans are siloed in separate ecosystems, consuming conflicting depictions of reality. Misinformation runs rampant. Conspiracy theories flourish. And extremism grows. What can bring us back to a shared, fact-based understanding?
A new miniseries from Landslide explores America's information divide — starting with a coordinated campaign in the early 1970s to undermine the press, and the alternate media ecosystem that followed.