Opinion journalism keeps the lights on. But at what cost? | Alice Dreger

Opinion is more compelling than fact. That's tearing society apart.

- Basic facts are up for debate, especially in the realm of science and politics. So which facts can you trust? Start by looking at trusted sources like Wikipedia, Snopes, and factcheck.org.

- "If people with money don't start supporting fact-checking systems then fact-checking systems will become increasingly rarer," says Dreger.

- Digital audiences are in the habit of sharing and reposting op-eds that agree with their existing opinions, rather than seeking out factual reporting. Opinion journalism makes money. Factual reporting makes less. That's a problem.

Alice Dreger is an historian of medicine and science, a sex researcher, an award-winning writer, and an (im)patient advocate. Dreger’s latest major work is Galileo’s Middle Finger: Heretics, Activists, and the Search for Justice in Science (https://amzn.to/2DGDyqn).

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