In today’s information-saturated world, it can be challenging to separate which reporting is legitimate or “fake.” Matt Taibbi plans on tackling this topic in a presentation Wednesday evening at the Kiva Auditorium.
Taibbi is an award-winning investigative reporter for Rolling Stone Magazine and the author of several books, such as “I Can’t Breathe: A Killing on Bay Street.”
His talk, “The Problems of Reporting in the Internet Age (and How to Counter Them),” will address issues directly relevant to journalism students, said David Weiss, department chair and associate professor for the Department of Communication & Journalism, who will facilitate the event. However, the information will also be of interest to the Albuquerque and University of New Mexico community.
“It’s really relevant to anyone who reads news online, which is basically everyone,” Weiss said. “I think he will be talking about readers’ trust...Is online journalism more trustworthy (or) less trustworthy?”
He said Taibbi will discuss challenges facing magazines and magazine reporters in the current climate.
“I think it’s really important our students get exposed to someone who is (practicing journalism), and is doing it well,” Weiss said. “He’s been with (Rolling Stone) for about 10 years, so he can talk about the changes he’s seen and has some really important advice.”
Over his three decades in journalism, Taibbi said he has witnessed a “sudden explosion” of “fake news” culture that has been cultivated in the past year, and in his presentation he will be touching on the challenges that reporters experience as a result.
Another topic Weiss said may come up is the experience Taibbi had in his 20s when he lived in Russia and co-founded the magazine, the eXile.
His wide-spread knowledge of written media — and experience in newspapers, books and magazines — will give students a chance to learn about various forms of journalism, Weiss said.
“It’s interesting, because (Taibbi) really is capable of doing all sorts of journalistic writing,” he said.
Taibbi has been on several talk shows, discussing his various books as well as political and economic issues.
“I don’t get to talk about journalism all that much, believe it or not,” Taibbi said.
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Weiss said he thinks every department on campus has an interest in being involved with guest speakers, but having Taibbi is a unique opportunity. Unlike previous speakers, who are typically professors from other universities, Weiss said Taibbi appeals to a wider audience, beyond just those within the C&J Department.
“I’m really excited that the students in this department will get something really valuable, but I think anyone who attends this has a stake in this topic,” Weiss said.
Taibbi will be speaking Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. in the Kiva Auditorium. The event is open to the public and free of charge.
He is also scheduled to speak separately at three C&J classes Wednesday.
Madison Spratto is a news editor at the Daily Lobo. She can be contacted at news@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @Madi_Spratto.
