In the current era, people are entrenched in silos of information that reinforce their beliefs, making it difficult to comprehend or engage with perspectives outside their own. This phenomenon poses a significant challenge in running democratic societies, as it hampers the ability to unite for the common good, particularly when fundamental truths, such as election outcomes, are disputed. This issue extends beyond Israel and is indicative of a broader malfunction in the press, shifting from explanatory journalism to activism. The prevalent questions in news stories have transformed from factual accuracy to political alignment and its impact on justice, deviating from traditional journalistic standards.
Journalist Matti Friedman worked for the Jerusalem Bureau of the Associated Press from 2006 to 2011. Looking back at that experience, Friedman argues that little has changed in the journalism landscape. Listen as Friedman discusses with EconTalk host Russ Roberts the media's obsession with Israel and how and why the media often sidelines facts in service of ideology, and the challenge of objective reporting in wartime.