Journalists provided election facts; citizens voted with eyes wide shut

Most people agree that actual facts matter – in such activities as debate, discussion and reporting. Once facts are gathered, verified and distributed, informed decision-making can proceed in such important exercises as voting.

But what happens when important, verified facts are published and broadcast widely, yet the resulting impact proves underwhelming – or even meaningless? If vital facts fail to affect the news audiences they intend to inform?

This is the conundrum facing American journalism after Nov. 5, 2024.

As a former journalist and a scholar of media effects on history, I know from...