The Truth Still Matters

By Bradley Leimer & Theodora Lau

How do we define truth, in an era when truth has become relative?

As humans, we desire knowledge; we require context. We thirst for connectivity, between past and present, and to each other. We need those that dig deeper and act as our seekers of truth. As we try to understand the embedded structures of society that surround us, our journey from here to there becomes more important, as do the institutions that help create these greater circumstances. Is there hope for a better future than one that existed previously? We cannot understand hope unless we first understand the truth between one day and the next. 

As we seek to understand more about the world we live in, we need both arbiters and advocates of truth. Finding the truth today requires the jackhammer of critical thinking, tenacious research, and a magnifying glass that empowers the dual lens of scrutiny and transparency. 

“I believe that the public journal is a public trust; that all connected with it are, to the full measure of their responsibility, trustees for the public; that acceptance of a lesser service than the public service is betrayal of this trust.” — Journalist’s Creed, Walter Williams

As the modern era continues its march, consumers increasingly turn to the internet for information. While digital media provides readers with more personalized content, with social platforms surpassing television, radio and newspapers as the primary source for news, we run the risk of being trapped inside echo chambers where existing viewpoints are reinforced. Where once the ability to broadcast was a privilege reserved for the few, individual contributors now have the power at their fingertips to connect directly to their audience and disseminate information instantaneously around the clock, across physical boundaries and cultures. 

So much for one version of the truth.

Truth, and the source of that truth, matters more than ever before. From regional to national news, media ownership is now concentrated in the hands of a few conglomerates. What is really the truth? What role does the press play in the age of instant gratification and fake news? Many voices on the planet today are not being heard. Those in power are diligent in spreading the message that all is well while ignoring pleas for help. After all, the stock market keeps rising and Main Street isn’t holding pitchforks (at least not yet).

Where is humanity headed next, as we march toward ten billion of us so very soon? Who will hear the voices of those who are marginalized? Intense scrutiny and integrity in seeking the truth is critical, especially when covering an industry with as much impact on society and the real global economy as financial services does. It’s imperative that we have real reporting, not cheerleading as TechCrunch is to Silicon Valley. Or we risk a repeat of the past, where we ignored the warning signs leading to the dot-com bubble and the Great Recession. Our fourth estate must not provide PR-fueled puff pieces, opinion-driven drivel, or puppets of the establishment, but instead rely on the inspiration and independence of the muckrakers of a previous era. 

To be critical is not cynical; It is to not pretend that things are as they seem, that the emperor has clothes when they surely do not. We require those with the power of the press to dig below face value — to truly seek the truth — combining the curiosity of a child, the diligence of an actuary, the empathy of a sociologist, the vigor of a historian, and the passion of a poet. 

We must look beyond the valuations of today’s unicorns and decacorns, to uncover the stories that truly matter — instead of mindlessly worshiping the lion tamers of the startup beast and the incumbents in corner offices. We must hold stakeholders responsible for their actions — instead of turning a blind eye to the trappings of toxic culture and corporate misconduct.

The pursuit and reporting of facts, the formation of what is true — is the purest form of rhetoric we can aspire to. We must ensure all voices in each story are heard, as facts drive actions and reactions. It is not speaking truth to power, it is making truth power itself. 

Where does truth truly begin and where does truth potentially die? It is in the hearts and mindsets of those that report it to us every day, those hands across keyboards and phones that dictate what they see for those of us that cannot, to tell stories that must be heard from those without a voice, to inspire action from those who can and those who will. 

We need the truth now more than ever before. 

Tune in for a new episode of One Vision via iTunes and Spotify, as Theo and Bradley chat with Penny Crosman, a well-respected figure in the financial services space, and the newly promoted executive editor, technology, at American Banker.