Director, Commonwealth Policy Center

Our trust in the established news media continues to decline. According to a Monmouth University poll, 77 percent of Americans believe that traditional news media outlets report "fake news." 65 percent of respondents believe "fake news" happens through editorial decisions regarding what topics to cover.  This is biased reporting but not necessarily "fake news."  A prime example is the heart-wrenching photo of the two-year-old Honduran girl crying as her mother is detained by border patrol agents. Time Magazine reported she was separated and taken away from her mother by the border patrol. The girl's father disputed the story but Time's cover photo of the crying toddler under the glare of Pres. Trump is forever seared in our minds.  This is "fake news" and it's why the mainstream news media is losing its credibility.