How reliable is the news?

Published 9:45 am Saturday, August 8, 2026

It truly bugs me when someone summarily dismisses a piece of evidence as “fake news” for no better reason than they don’t like what it is saying.

Anyone who has worked in a newsroom knows one thing: getting the facts right matters. A lot. Print something false with your name on it and your credibility starts sinking faster than a bowling ball in a kiddie pool.

The same is true for the news organization. If a reporter gets a story wrong, the editor does not simply shrug and say, “Well, everybody has hobbies.” A bad story can damage the outlet’s reputation, drive away readers, scare off advertisers, and eventually leave the building emptier than the beer cooler at a Super Bowl party.

That is why reputable newsrooms use editors, fact-checkers, named sources, documents, and second opinions before publishing serious claims. They know competitors will pounce on errors like cats spotting an unattended sardine tin. Hype, exaggeration, half-truths, and plain old baloney do not stay hidden for long.

I became aware of this fact long before my association with newsrooms. It was while I was watching “All the Presidents Men.” What I remember so clearly was the scene when reporters Woodward and Bernstein submitted the explosive story about the Watergate break-in. Though they provided three independent sources confirming the report, the editor still insisted they get a fourth before he would run the story.

So, accuracy is not just a matter of journalistic honor. It is a matter of survival. A news outlet that cannot be trusted may still make noise, but noise is not the same as news. A leaf blower is loud too, and nobody asks it for election coverage.

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Of course, news organizations can still get things wrong. Sometimes they move too fast. Sometimes they rely on weak information. Sometimes, especially in authoritarian countries, the press becomes less of a watchdog and more of a trained poodle for the people in power.

Then there are independent sites, small outlets, influencers, podcasts, and social media posts created by a man in sunglasses filming from the front seat of his truck. Some are honest and useful. Others treat evidence the way raccoons treat garbage cans: loudly, messily, and with great enthusiasm.

So how can we tell whether we are getting truth, spin, or a fig newton of someone’s imagination?

Start with a few simple checks.

First, see whether more than one reputable outlet is reporting the same thing. If only one site has the “shocking truth,” proceed carefully.

Second, look for real evidence: named sources, documents, dates, video, records, or direct quotations. Phrases like “people are saying,” “everyone knows,” or “my cousin’s barber heard” are not exactly the gold standard of proof.

Third, separate reporting from opinion. Opinion pieces can be interesting, thoughtful, and even correct, but they are designed to persuade. Straight news should show its work, not just wave its arms and yell, “Believe me, I know.”

Fourth, beware of stories that make you instantly furious or thrilled. Strong emotion is often the fishing lure. Before biting, check for the hook.

Finally, consider the outlet’s record. Does it correct mistakes? Does it distinguish facts from guesses? Does it report information that makes its own side uncomfortable? A reliable news source is not perfect, but it admits errors instead of hiding them under the couch like a dog with a stolen biscuit.

So, when you are tempted to scream “fake news!” because you see something in print you disagree with, consider the idea that Truth is not always comfortable. And consider the effort a responsible reporter and news agency have gone to in order to provide you with accuracy.

Because in the end, responsibility does not belong only to journalists. We readers and viewers have a job too: to slow down, compare sources, and resist sharing claims we have not checked.

Truth is not always the loudest voice in the room. Sometimes it is the quiet one in the corner, patiently waiting while nonsense dances on the table wearing a lampshade.

— Ronn Kistler has authored nine books for teachers on the use of the arts in education, and has written over 50 curriculum-oriented plays for young people and family audiences. He served as the WKU Planetarium Coordinator until his retirement in 2019.