The national news media has less authority and influence these days than alternative (decentralized) media but at the same time isn't the national news media supposed to be held to higher ethical standards? We supportively give them prestige because their function is to report the news to the highest ethical standards.
This isn't always the case though as you and I both know. And when you are talking decentralized, and gossip, it's a totally different game. Gossip networks are almost more similar to undercover marketing networks where you don't really know if the person is drinking coke around you as part of a marketing campaign to influence you into drinking coke or if they really enjoy coke. Gossip would simply be popular rumors which are being spread around you, by people who may or may not be rewarded in some anonymous and hidden way. The point is it's not possible to know for sure what motivates people to give you a particular piece of information.
who you gonna trust?
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