Haylie: 'Is truth too much to ask?'

Fake news is now part of our lives.

It’s exploded again this week on a national level, with the testimony of former FBI director James Comey as part of a congressional hearing on possible connections between Russia and the Trump presidential campaign.

Democrats see a clear case of obstruction of justice, with Trump intimidating Comey in the hope of killing an investigation of Michael Flynn, the ex-director of national security.

Republicans, on the other hand, have mounted a vigorous and angry defense, screaming “witch hunt” at every possible opportunity.

So who can we believe?

Citizens here in North Idaho don’t actually know whether or not Trump is guilty of an impeachable offense — nor are his supporters truly sure he’s innocent.

So we listen, read or watch our news outlet of choice.

And in many cases, the news we get will be tailored to one side of the argument or the other.

In other words, it’s not news at all.

It’s public relations work, surrounded by the trappings of a regular newspaper or TV studio to project the image of legitimacy.

THIS one-sided “news” is frustrating as hell, frankly, to honest journalists who are dedicated to learning the truth and passing it on to the public.

What we media people forget, sometimes, is that everyday citizens must be going crazy, too.

Worse, they may giving up on news entirely — because they have no idea what they can believe.

I got a splash of cold water on that subject from a onetime reader named Haylie Thompson, who only picked up the paper one day because her daughter’s picture was in it.

But Haylie really DOES care about the news, about what’s happening in Kootenai County, in Idaho, in the country and the world.

Her email was a reminder that everyday citizens have become sick of wondering if their “news” is true or deliberately biased — and they’re holding us responsible.

“I want facts, and better understanding of events,” Ms. Thompson wrote. “I do not want one-sided pieces and I do not want angry rants. I have fallen off the news wagon.

“I hate the news, actually, and refuse to be a part of it.”

NOW THAT was a view of the “fake news” disease that had not occurred to me.

Intelligent and interested people see what’s going on and, like Haylie Thompson, they’ve begun to think that by accepting these doctored versions of events, they become complicit in the whole terrible cycle.

They’re part of it.

And Haylie Thompson, at least, has decided it’s doing too much damage.

“I think Americans are tired of feeling angry, helpless and useless,” she wrote. “I think we realize that we’re all out to ‘get’ each other.

“My whole family is a blend of political parties, and we still talk and laugh and view each other as human beings. We have great discussions and views, and sometimes we can even compromise over our disagreements.

“Isn’t that what having a difference in opinion is about?”

Yes, of course that’s how it should be.

Haylie says she will try following the news again – but she’s doing it with caution.

It should be obvious that we have an obligation to her, and to all our readers.

And so does everyone else in the media.

You see, each time we lose a Haylie Thompson, America dies a little.

• • •

Steve Cameron is a special assignment reporter for The Press. You can reach Steve via email: scameron@cdapress.com.