The Death of Objective Media | Truth, Bias and the New Information War

Why does it feel like no one agrees on reality anymore? In this episode of Uncommon Sense in Current Times, I speak with veteran religion reporter Terry Mattingly. He writes the nationally syndicated On Religion weekly column and he's joined me to unpack the collapse of objective media—and how the rise of the subscription economy is reshaping truth itself. We explore how the old model of journalism, which was built on fairness, accuracy and reaching broad audiences, has been replaced by a system that rewards bias, outrage and "preaching to the choir."  The result? A fragmented culture where people live in completely different information worlds. We also dive into what Terry calls the "religion ghost"—the media's inability to accurately report on faith—and why this blind spot is fueling deeper cultural division between those who believe in absolute truth and those who see truth as subjective and evolving. This isn't just about news bias. It's about the future of truth, culture and how we understand reality itself. 📘 Get my latest book "Bold Not Belligerent" on Amazon: 👉 https://a.co/d/eGTPSYS 💭 A different way to reflect this week: • Am I seeking truth—or just consuming content that confirms what I already believe? • How has my information diet shaped the way I see the world? 📌 In this episode, I discuss: ✅ Why objective journalism is disappearing ✅ The shift from advertising to subscription-driven media ✅ How media now profits from reinforcing bias ✅ What "information silos" are doing to our culture ✅ The rise of alternative media voices like podcasts ✅ The "religion ghost" and why faith is misrepresented in news ✅ The deeper cultural divide over the definition of truth ✅ How elite media frames "good" vs. "bad" religion ✅ The role of Big Tech in controlling visibility and influence ✅ How AI and technology are shaping the next generation 📢 TAKE ACTION: 🧠 Evaluate your information sources—are they forming or informing you? 📖 Seek out perspectives that challenge your assumptions 🗣 Have real conversations with people outside your "information bubble" 📱 Be intentional about how technology shapes your family and worldview 🔗 Connect with Terry Mattingly: On Religion column: https://tmatt.net Rational Sheep Substack: https://tmattingly.substack.com Acton Institute article, Evolving Religion of Journalism - https://www.acton.org/religion-liberty/volume-33-number-1/evolving-religion-journalism GetReligion: https://www.getreligion.org 🔗 Follow Peter Demos: Website: https://www.peterdemos.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peterdemosofficial Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peterdemosofficial Twitter/X: https://x.com/peter_demos 🙌 SUBSCRIBE for bold conversations at the intersection of faith, freedom, and truth in a world gone mad. #PeterDemos #UncommonSensePodcast #MediaCrisis #TruthMatters #TerryMattingly #Journalism #MediaBias #FaithAndCulture #InformationWar #BoldNotBelligerent