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> Democracy requires citizens to know the facts at a level of understanding that is actionable. It takes a lot of work and skill to distill the chaos of mass hu

> Democracy requires citizens to know the facts at a level of understanding that is actionable. It takes a lot of work and skill to distill the chaos of mass human behavior into something that voters can make sense of and journalists are the closest we have to experts at that process. I agree with you that good journalists are essential to society 100%. I also think that the current state of affairs is doing more harm than good. We would be better off as a society if CNN and Fox News dissolved tomorrow. > In a capitalistic ecosystem where the fitness function is profitability, the only organizations that survive are the ones that choose money. What about the Red Cross, the NRA, the Sierra Club, the NAACP, the ACLU? There is absolutely room in a capitalist society for non-profit organizations that at least some segment of the population are passionate about enough to fund them. In the modern age, there is also room for independent journalists. Thousands of Youtubers and podcasters make a living through patreon, why not journalists? With the internet, you don't need to backing of a massive news outlet to have your story printed and distributed.

munificent 6y ago
> What about the Red Cross, the NRA, the Sierra Club, the NAACP, the ACLU? Good point. Yes, we are not quite living in a libertarian paradise/hellhole of pure capitalism yet. :) Even there, though, non-profits do compete for donor dollars and the competitive pressure is not always well-aligned with the altruistic goals of the organization. > There is absolutely room in a capitalist society for non-profit organizations that at least some segment of the population are passionate about enough to fund them. I agree, but I hesitate to rely entirely on the largesse of those with spare cash to support journalism. Journalism is a vital function for democracy, and democracy should support all of a nations' people, not just the views of those with extra money. There are, of course, many wealthy people willing to support journalism that protects the poor too, but I worry as always about bias. > In the modern age, there is also room for independent journalists. Thousands of Youtubers and podcasters make a living through patreon, why not journalists? With the internet, you don't need to backing of a massive news outlet to have your story printed and distributed. I have some but limited faith that "all bugs are shallow" applies to investigative journalism. Yes, independent journalists can dig up and find a lot of stuff. But there's really something to be said for the doors that get opened when a journalist from a well-regarded important publication knocks on them. When the Washington Post asks a politician a hard question, they feel some pressure to answer. When J. Random Youtuber does, not so much.

munificent 6y ago

> What about the Red Cross, the NRA, the Sierra Club, the NAACP, the ACLU? Good point. Yes, we are not quite living in a libertarian paradise/hellhole of pure capitalism yet. :) Even there, though, non-profits do compete for donor dollars and the competitive pressure is not always well-aligned with the altruistic goals of the organization. > There is absolutely room in a capitalist society for non-profit organizations that at least some segment of the population are passionate about enough to fund them. I agree, but I hesitate to rely entirely on the largesse of those with spare cash to support journalism. Journalism is a vital function for democracy, and democracy should support all of a nations' people, not just the views of those with extra money. There are, of course, many wealthy people willing to support journalism that protects the poor too, but I worry as always about bias. > In the modern age, there is also room for independent journalists. Thousands of Youtubers and podcasters make a living through patreon, why not journalists? With the internet, you don't need to backing of a massive news outlet to have your story printed and distributed. I have some but limited faith that "all bugs are shallow" applies to investigative journalism. Yes, independent journalists can dig up and find a lot of stuff. But there's really something to be said for the doors that get opened when a journalist from a well-regarded important publication knocks on them. When the Washington Post asks a politician a hard question, they feel some pressure to answer. When J. Random Youtuber does, not so much.