Information Under Threat: Protecting Truth and Democracy in Uncertain Times
By: Michelle Amazeen
As a professor in higher education, I spent this summer advancing my research, planning new courses, and observing with growing concern the narrowing of public information in our society.
Last week, I attended the journalism and mass communication educators’ conference in San Francisco, themed “Leading in Times of Momentous Change: Individual and Collective Opportunities.” Among other activities, I reviewed a panel focused on correcting misinformation, an urgent issue amid escalating challenges posed by false information. Presenters examined interventions addressing social media influencers who promote harmful health remedies and the difficulties faced by professional fact-checkers operating in non-democratic environments. These discussions highlighted a troubling reality: the United States is increasingly exhibiting characteristics of democratic erosion.
These worrying trends are manifesting in various ways throughout society. For instance, book bans in public schools and libraries restrict access to diverse viewpoints. Federal agencies, under the Trump administration, removed COVID-19 signage and replaced critical health websites with pages such as the White House’s “Lab Leak: The True Origins of COVID-19.” Climate science data has also been distorted or censored. Such actions undermine scientific integrity, suppress dissent, and promote a controlled narrative that stifles independent thought, particularly among young people.
Independent media – essential for holding power accountable – have come under relentless pressure as well. In the lead-up to the 2025 presidential election, The Washington Post and The Los Angeles Times abruptly canceled planned endorsements of the Democratic nominee, Kamala Harris. Since then, the Post narrowed its opinion page policy to emphasize “personal liberties and free markets.” Media outlets like CBS and ABC have settled multi-million-dollar lawsuits initiated by President Trump, signaling how legal tactics can chill critical reporting. Even conservative publications such as The Wall Street Journal have been targeted for their investigative work. Meanwhile, popular satirical programs, including Stephen Colbert’s The Late Show have been canceled, further shrinking spaces for dissent and critical commentary.
Two concerning indicators of democratic health are especially apparent today. First, the rise of independent fact-checking organizations – now numbering over 50 in the US – signals underlying democratic fragility rather than strength. Second, Congress’s recent defunding of public media, culminating in the dissolution of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, severely undermines public access to trustworthy information.
What do these developments mean for the future of American democracy and informed citizenship?
These questions will guide my students’ exploration during the fall semester as they engage with newly developed courses on information integrity. Beyond the classroom, revitalizing local public media is critical. Massachusetts should be considering the establishment of an independent nonprofit to channel public funds to reliable community news sources, an approach gaining momentum across the country. New Jersey, for example, has committed over $10 million since 2021 to bolster local journalism, while Pennsylvania is exploring similar initiatives.
These efforts demonstrate that supporting independent, well-funded local media is essential to restoring a healthy information ecosystem and safeguarding democracy.
As communication researchers and educators, it is our responsibility to study these challenges rigorously, prepare future media professionals, and actively support initiatives that promote the free and accurate flow of information—essential pillars for a healthy democracy.