Reporting in the Age of Social Media

In the world of modern technology and social networking, it could be argued that reporting truths has taken a backseat to platform building and the potential for gossip/hate-mongering. 

Oftentimes, parties in power will come out with one-liners that compliment their opinions, inciting or exciting their audience. They don't often bother with explaining the minutiae to save their audience from the tedium of explanation or reasoning because their platform alone is all that matters. What they stand for is all that matters. Even if they are making unfair insinuations.

Others reference stories of the worst case scenario with minimal accounts or quotes from any parties not immediately involved with the story, meaning no corroborators to verify veracity of something suggested. The news stories further neglect citing professional sources, providing data, or explaining alternative sides to the events unfolding. 

Nothing is verifiable. No one on the inside is referenced. 

What is the truth? 

Are they trying to report it still, or is the primary goal to align with an agenda?

This is a plea to bring critical analysis and data back into the sphere of social sharing.