The Truth Is Paywalled but the Lies Are Free (currentaffairs.org)

Article summary

The article discusses the issue of paywalls and how they affect access to quality information, with many reputable news sources and academic journals being behind paywalls, while misinformation and biased sources are often free. This creates a situation where it is easier to access false or misleading information than it is to access reliable and trustworthy sources. The article argues that this is a problem because it can lead to the spread of misinformation and the erosion of trust in institutions. The author suggests that a more democratic and accessible system of information dissemination is needed.

Main themes

• paywalls and access to information
• bias in reporting
• objectivity in journalism
• misinformation and disinformation
• democratization of information
• media literacy and critical thinking
• role of state-funded vs for-profit news sources

What commenters say

• News outlets often have biases, and it's difficult to find sources that report without tilting in one direction.
• Reading multiple sources with different biases can help to get a more accurate picture of a situation.
• Even objective reporting can be seen as biased due to the choice of words and the context in which information is presented.
• Some argue that state-funded news sources are less biased than for-profit news sources, but others point out that they have their own set of perverse incentives.
• The concept of unbiased reporting is complex, and some argue that it's impossible to achieve true objectivity in reporting.
• The use of certain words or phrases can imply a bias or perspective, even if the facts being reported are objective.
• The decision of what to report and what not to report can also be seen as a form of bias.
• The lack of access to reliable information can have serious consequences, including the spread of misinformation and the erosion of trust in institutions.