Photo credit: Daniel Swartz
“Hey, hey, hey,” shouted Gloria Dittus to get our attention at a book party she hosted in her home for Steven Brill, author of The Death of Truth. “We call that the ‘Southern Mating Call.’ There’s a long story behind that, but I won’t share it tonight.” So we checked it out so you don’t have to. It’s a humorous, colloquial way of getting people’s attention that is jokingly associated with Southern culture and used in a lighthearted, playful manner. So – “hey, hey, hey.”
Steven Brill and Gloria Dittus
The book signing and engaging discussion moderated by Elaina Calabro of The Atlantic celebrated “The Death of Truth: How Social Media and the Internet Gave Snake Oil Salesmen and Demagogues the Weapons They Needed to Destroy Trust and Polarize the World–And What We Can Do.” Yep, that’s the title. Don’t blame me. It explores how social media and the internet have empowered divisive figures. Brill is a bestselling author and NewsGuard Co-Founder. The event was co-hosted by Don Baer, Gloria Dittus, Chris Israel, and Bruce Mehlman.
Steven Brill and Elaina Calabro
“I was so honored when Chris Israel called me and asked me if I would consider hosting a book party for Steve and this fabulous book called The Death of Truth. I jumped at it because I really do believe in what he’s talking about,” said Dittus. “I’ve been in journalism my entire life; never a journalist, but always someone that wanted to make sure that the truth is told about whatever issue we were working on and that I always felt like if we told the truth about what we were working on, that the truth would prevail. It seems like we’re in a different world with this now, so it’s an honor for me to have Steve here to talk about the book. He is going to be interviewed by Elaina Calabro. The Atlantic has been such a great organization, so welcome.“
“A seminal, ground-breaking, documented and honest examination of two of the central dilemmas of our time—what is truth and where to find it.” —Bob Woodward, associate editor at The Washington Post
“I’m a former student of Steve Brill, an embarrassing long time ago at this point, but I would encourage everyone at the end of this, even if you hated it, to just applaud really loudly because I still feel like I’m being graded in a way,” quipped Calabro. “One of the things that I think makes this book so readable is when you are talking about specific, really technical topics. This is all intensely personal for you. Not only are you running NewsGuard, you are aiming to combat misinformation, disinformation, but you have been personally targeted because of that.” She went on to cite specific chapters in the book…..way too long to quote. To summarize: A chapter in the book discusses Warren Buffet’s significant funding of Sputnik News, a Russian disinformation site, through his investments. This revelation prompts a discussion on programmatic advertising, a pivotal theme in the book. Major brands unknowingly finance misinformation and disinformation campaigns, contributing to societal chaos and polarization. The unintended consequences of programmatic advertising, reveals how it shapes media landscapes and influences public discourse, often in ways that advertisers and consumers alike may not fully comprehend or intend. This was a long conversation, so to be sure I got that right, read the book!!!!
Steve Brill, author
This takes us to trust in institutions. “I trust the institutions. I think what we lack is the degree that we’re not all sensitive enough to the people who have lost that trust. Too many people for whom the system has stopped working don’t believe in institutions. They don’t believe in experts,” said Brill. Looking for a journalistic cure he says “The basic rule of journalism is skepticism, not cynicism, but skepticism. And whether just because you read something in The New York Post doesn’t mean it’s wrong. Just because you read something in The New York Post doesn’t mean it’s right. Even in journalism I do think there is an instinct to pick sides and to say: ‘These are the good guys and those are the bad guys and we’re on one side or the other,’ but what we really try to do is not pick sides. And to me, that’s the essence of journalism.”
Steve Brill and Ted Olson
“What continues to give you hope?” “So there’s a whole variety of things you can do, but people have to get really pissed off about it.”
