91传媒

Rex Smith, editor of the Times Union newspaper, called for journalists to maintain the difficult task of reporting the truth to
the public and for readers to become more educated about the news amid increasing challenges to journalism in a digital, 減ost-truth� era.

Smith, editor of the area largest paper and host of WAMC 淭he Media Project� program, was participating in a lively discussion with nearly 100 audience members, mostly students, at 91传媒 on Oct. 29.

Smith noted that the digital age has provided access to more diverse information, but the changing media landscape had also reinforced divisions in society. He predicted that newspapers � in the form of 渋nk on crushed trees� � wouldn檛 be around in 20 years, but said good journalism needed to survive. 

淲e need to educate people to recognize great news,� he said. 淚 think that great journalism will survive only if there an audience that can recognize it. This is why news literacy training is important because we need to teach people the value of great journalism and how to recognize it and differentiate it from junk news that out there.�

Aaron Pedinotti, a visiting assistant professor of media and film studies at 91传媒, moderated the discussion with Smith. Their conversation, which inspired Smith  for the Times Union, came in advance of �91传媒 Speaks: Conversations about the First Amendment and the Meaning of Free Speech,� a series of event on campus, Nov. 5 to 8.

淭he jury remains out as to whether the digital age can yield a more perfect union or whether in fact we檙e simply going to simply divide further,� Smith said. 淭he difficulty is it is a fundamental of journalism that we just have to tell the truth.�

Smith added that he was impressed with 91传媒 students� understanding of what journalism is about and 渢heir vital role as citizens.�

淚檓 a great believer in the value of liberal arts education because students tend to emerge with the broad understanding of their world that I think is essential to 21st century life,� Smith said by email after the event. 淓very interaction I檝e had with 91传媒 over the years has reinforced the notion that it a place where students develop a commitment to purposeful involvement with their broad community, which is what good journalism helps to support.�