ATLANTA — The revelation that NBC anchor Brian Williams apparently lied about an experience in Iraq is sad on so many levels.
For starters, journalists are supposed to be trusted sources of information. A well-informed society needs trustworthy news sources.
In this void, politicians can cheat. The morally deficient will corrupt.
Sadly, the Williams saga is endemic of a larger societal problem. Lying.
Dishonesty exists everywhere in society, from resumes to social media to telling one’s doctor how many beers one drinks per week to yes, the media. Life happens at lightning speed, and it’s often difficult to parse fact from fiction.
This isn’t a new problem. The first cave drawings probably contained exaggerations.
The Williams downfall isn’t the first journalism scandal. Chances are it won’t be the last.
But maybe, just maybe, we can learn from this episode.