Lies and myths are societal poison. As we enter into an even worse era for the rapid spread of misinformation, disinformation and “alternative facts,” we desperately need trustworthy sources of truth. News media should serve that role.
When they don’t, we’re all in trouble. But every day, news organizations report things liars — and even terrorists — say without telling you what’s true. They give these folks “open mics” to spew dangerous nonsense.
Who holds the media to account? Who fact checks the news? Now, there's a podcast for that. Welcome to They Stand Corrected. Subscribe!
Here are direct links to the show in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Links to other places, or listen directly in the site, at the NEW joshlevs.com.
In it, I tackle the systemic problems that need to be fixed. Each episode focuses on something big that the media keeps getting wrong, why it keeps happening, and what we can all do about it.
It’s interactive, so you can send me reports that you read, hear, or watch, and ask me to fact check them.
Who is this guy?
I spent 20 years inside mainstream media, at NPR and CNN, and became a fact checker on air and online, covering everything from geopolitics to the economy, U.S. elections, the climate and more. (You can read about awards and stuff in the bio here.)
I also had a highly publicized, successful battle involving paternity leave and wrote a book dispelling myths about dads, which led to a bunch of activism work for gender equality. Since leaving full-time work inside the media, I’ve been speaking everywhere from Congress to the U.N. to Oxford (videos here), writing columns for major news organizations and being interviewed by them. (Articles and interviews here.)
From this outside perspective, I've been able to see the fundamental problems in today’s news operations more clearly than ever. I’m a fighter for making things better, and a big believer that if you take on an important effort, other people will join in.
Hence, the new podcast. It’s my own project, the first time I’ve gone off independently rather than tapping into the audience of an established media empire (in addition to working for major news outlets, I published my book with HarperOne, an imprint of HarperCollins).
Each episode of the podcast will have an accompanying newsletter here on Substack filled with links and proof. I don’t ask anyone to take my word for anything.
Oh — and I plan to do segments called “I Stand Corrected,” in which you can point out things I got wrong! It’s important to show that there’s no shame in getting something wrong, as long as you correct it.
Truth = facts + context. Anytime the news fails to provide both, it damages society. When you love something, you can’t stand to see it fail. And I love the role that a free press can and should play.
Subscribe to the newsletter here, and to the podcast on whichever app you use. In the brief teaser, you’ll hear how I decided on the topic for the first series of episodes.
Have a question, suggestion, or story you want me to look into? In the next post, learn all about how to get in touch with me and the show, as well as perks for those who choose to support this project.
Thanks and big love,
JL
Your voice is so important. I'm glad you have decided to apply your expertise to this space.