In the 1990s, an emigrate from USSR asked me to explain politics (propaganda) in the USA.
She said in the USSR that there was very little information and everyone knew the government was lying but no one could guess at the truth.
Having read Postman, McLuhan, Chomsky, etc, and having dabbled in media, I felt qualified to answer:
In the USA, the truth was always available, but everyone is overwhelmed with information (called 'infoglut' in the 80s), so few people had the wherewithal to figure out what's what, and most people just shut down.
Today, I'd say even the truth is hard to find, even for the motivated and experienced researchers.
She said in the USSR that there was very little information and everyone knew the government was lying but no one could guess at the truth.
Having read Postman, McLuhan, Chomsky, etc, and having dabbled in media, I felt qualified to answer:
In the USA, the truth was always available, but everyone is overwhelmed with information (called 'infoglut' in the 80s), so few people had the wherewithal to figure out what's what, and most people just shut down.
Today, I'd say even the truth is hard to find, even for the motivated and experienced researchers.