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But is a free press that has no checks and balances actually useful to democracy? I was going to make a complaint yesterday about a Fox News article that had so

But is a free press that has no checks and balances actually useful to democracy? I was going to make a complaint yesterday about a Fox News article that had some serious factual errors, but I see there is no agency in the USA to make such a complaint to. So basically you have all sorts of fake news being peddled and there's absolutely nothing that can be done about it.

timavr 8y ago
I think where US struggles is general education of population and engagement with political process. Press is subjective and you need engaged critically thinking electorate to see when BS is being presented to them. Basically fake news is on us, not on them.
JumpCrisscross 8y ago
> there is no agency in the USA to make such a complaint to If you have a government agency policing what the press can and cannot say, you don't have a free press.
- poulsbohemian 8y ago
  Your point is well taken, but I think what the previous poster was suggesting is some kind of ombudsman. I don't know that the idea is without merit, though as you point out it could be difficult to do in a way that preserved the freedom and independence of media.
  - cpncrunch 8y ago
    Yes, the press complaints commission seemed to work well in the UK, and didn't infringe any freedom of the media. We're not talking about deciding what can and can't be said, just dealing with patently false statements.
ryanhuff 8y ago
Each press organization has their reputation and readers/viewers/listeners that should act as a lever. Its up to individual citizens to be critical readers.
- cpncrunch 8y ago
  As we have seen, that doesn't work very well.
masonic 8y ago
a Fox News article that had some serious factual errors How about posting a link for broader critique?
- cpncrunch 8y ago
  https://www.foxnews.com/world/omar-khadr-canada-pays-ex-gitmo-detainee-who-killed-us-soldier-millions-but-soldiers-widow-may-never-see-a-dime https://www.foxnews.com/world/omar-khadr-canada-pays-ex-gitm... The statement is "killed US soldier" (not proven, and evidence seems to suggest the contrary).

timavr 8y ago

I think where US struggles is general education of population and engagement with political process. Press is subjective and you need engaged critically thinking electorate to see when BS is being presented to them. Basically fake news is on us, not on them.

JumpCrisscross 8y ago

> there is no agency in the USA to make such a complaint to If you have a government agency policing what the press can and cannot say, you don't have a free press.

poulsbohemian 8y ago
Your point is well taken, but I think what the previous poster was suggesting is some kind of ombudsman. I don't know that the idea is without merit, though as you point out it could be difficult to do in a way that preserved the freedom and independence of media.
- cpncrunch 8y ago
  Yes, the press complaints commission seemed to work well in the UK, and didn't infringe any freedom of the media. We're not talking about deciding what can and can't be said, just dealing with patently false statements.

ryanhuff 8y ago

Each press organization has their reputation and readers/viewers/listeners that should act as a lever. Its up to individual citizens to be critical readers.

cpncrunch 8y ago
As we have seen, that doesn't work very well.

masonic 8y ago

a Fox News article that had some serious factual errors How about posting a link for broader critique?

cpncrunch 8y ago
https://www.foxnews.com/world/omar-khadr-canada-pays-ex-gitmo-detainee-who-killed-us-soldier-millions-but-soldiers-widow-may-never-see-a-dime https://www.foxnews.com/world/omar-khadr-canada-pays-ex-gitm... The statement is "killed US soldier" (not proven, and evidence seems to suggest the contrary).