The problem is not that people don’t trust mainstream media.

It’s that they have blind faith in social media, which insists mainstream media is “not to be trusted.”

And THAT thrilling move allows people to feel they are gimlet-eyed skeptics when they swallow QAnon, etc, whole.

The mainstream media must stop falling all over itself to win back “trust.”

That’s where you get bothsidesism, condescension, false equivalence, etc.

Trying to get someone to trust you will always feel like a con.

The trick in resurrecting the Enlightement is to appeal to the intelligence of news consumers who want their skepticism respected.

And then getting them to bring that skepticism to the claims of media—social media. Activate that Show Me reflex Americans used to be famous for.