Chris Hayes on Trust and Truth in Modern Media
All broadcast journalists walk in the footsteps of Edward R. Murrow. The legendary CBS newsman and namesake of Fletcher’s Murrow Center has inspired generations of television reporters.
One such journalist is Chris Hayes. The host of MSNBC’s Emmy Award-winning All In with Chris Hayes, Hayes broadcasts nightly on television screens across America. All In is one of many programs that owe a debt to Murrow’s landmark See It Now, offering commentary on contentious political issues of the day.
Hayes visited the Tufts University campus in November to participate in the 16th Edward R. Murrow Forum on Issues in Journalism. Hosted by Tisch College with support from the Murrow Center and attended by Edward’s son Casey Murrow, the event provided a lively and thought-provoking discussion about the state of American politics, media, and democracy.
A Chaotic Information Landscape
The event came at a challenging time for the news industry. Hayes argued that lies often outcompete truth in the modern media, with algorithms increasingly dictating what audiences consume. Rather than actively selecting trusted sources, people are often fed content designed to maximize engagement, regardless of its accuracy or value.
Hayes sees intentional ideological sorting and information siloing, often decried as the drivers of polarization, as old and familiar patterns, described as early as in the 18th century Federalist Papers. In previous decades, ideologues would seek out partisan publications to confirm their personal views. Today’s ecosystem is stranger, with consumers instead passively receiving information from unknown sources, mixed in with football highlights as they scroll social media video feeds.
Consequently, audiences often have no relationship with the news sources they consume and no trust in their accuracy. For Hayes, this poses profound risks, a “high-wire experiment” for democracy. Never before, he argues, have democratic systems thrived in an environment of widespread distrust.
Advice for Students
Hayes shared practical advice for students preparing to navigate this complex and evolving landscape. He urged students to approach their education with relentless curiosity, advising them to "stuff knowledge in their brain all the time." He emphasized the importance of discernment in navigating the modern news cycle, encouraging young people to filter out daily distractions and focus instead on larger trends, such as signs of democratic erosion.
In public communication, Hayes encouraged mastering the balance between fact and emotion, stating that the most effective messages operate “at the hinge” of both. By blending knowledge, strategic thinking, and persuasive skills, he argued, students can position themselves as informed and impactful contributors to dialogue on society’s biggest issues.
Hayes also underscored the need for flexibility and humility in interpreting the course of history. Drawing parallels between the 2024 and 2004 elections, he reminded students that a moment of conservative triumph was followed, just four years later, by a political landslide in the opposite direction. Whether excited or dismayed by this November’s election results, citizens should remember that the future remains uncertain.
The New Murrows
Edward R. Murrow pioneered newscasting on the cutting-edge technology of his time, television. While television remains an influential platform, Hayes noted the exploding popularity of news discussion across new mediums: podcasts, YouTube, social media, and more. The new platforms need new “Murrows” to innovate and inform audiences - and Fletcher students are well-positioned to address that challenge.