Sometimes small things reveal big realities. And that’s the case with disinformation, which has been variously defined as everything from “foreign propaganda” to “conservative beliefs.” We are reminded: They are always putting another brick in The Wall.
For instance, this recent item from TV Newser: “Ahead of the 2024 presidential election Scripps News is launching a six-person Disinformation Desk to investigate disinformation and the sources that might cause it to spread.”
But wait just a second here! Isn’t the whole media industry shrinking? Why yes, it is–layoffs galore. So, why now is Scripps suddenly hiring six people?
Scripps is a venerable name in news. Founded back in 1878, the company grew to be a formidable newspaper chain. It was the home, for example, of the beloved columnist Ernie Pyle, who covered World War II from the front lines, reporting to 700 newspapers back home. In April 1945, Pyle was killed on Okinawa; the following year, he was immortalized by Burgess Meredith in the Hollywood movie The Story of G.I. Joe.
