This volume investigates how the intersection of technological advancement, tabloid-style reporting, and the rise of 'truthiness' has fundamentally altered the landscape of contemporary journalism. Edited by Barbie Zelizer, the text compiles scholarly papers presented at a 2007 symposium at the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg School for Communication. The contributors analyze the shifting standards of journalistic integrity and the pressures exerted by digital media environments on traditional news gathering. By examining these factors, the authors provide a framework for understanding the erosion of objective reporting in the early 21st century.

Experts recognize this collection as a significant academic contribution to media studies, particularly for its early identification of the challenges posed by digital-era journalism. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which makes it a valuable resource for scholars and students of communication theory.