‘The Marketplace Of Ideas’ Now A ‘Fallacy’

For centuries, the idea that we could determine the truth by being exposed to multiple sources of information in a “marketplace of ideas” was the prevailing ideal for citizens seeking to hold their governments accountable.
At some point in our recent past, without much fanfare or notice, the concept died.
The “marketplace of ideas…envisions a speech ecosystem where competition among ideas, refereed by a responsible press, results in truth winning out,” an article by Stanford Law School on “The Death of the ‘Marketplace of Ideas,’” says....If the marketplace of ideas has become a fallacy, then how do Americans determine the truth, and where do they turn for trusted news?
In a recent article based on a survey of Americans across the country asking how they can tell whether their news is real or fake, truth or lie, or truth mixed with deceptive twists that distort its meaning, the Pew Research Center came up with five recommendations.

Be skeptical 

Follow the news regularly 

Quality of news sources 

Quantity and variety

Do research

There is one corner of the world where the marketplace of ideas still works – small towns. Survey after survey shows our community newspapers are the most trusted sources of news. Letters to the editor and guest editorials provide diverse opinions. If we hold to our standards for truth and fairness, we will remain that healthy marketplace.

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