Nebraska’s news junkies and even casual information consumers have full plates: the potential resignations of a University of Nebraska regent and a state legislator; a federal immigration detention camp that materialized on an apparent need-to-know basis in an infinitesimally narrow reading of who needs to know; and, with less than a year from 2026’s midterm elections, political campaigns are giving news and information patrons thousands of opportunities to wonder what is the truth.

Each news cycle adds to the list, too.

Imagine a Nebraska television station’s local news broadcast — or a network’s nightly news — devoting 5-7 minutes most evenings to getting the actual truth, not simply a repackaging by one or more of the principals involved or a retelling of something gleaned from our newest “news” universe: social media.

That’s right, what if tucked among the weather, doorbell videos funny or frightening or local officials making non-comment comments was a segment designed to sift fact from fiction among stories that affect viewers lives?

What if the reporting — after ferreting out the fibs and fakes — also took a clear-eyed look at the reasons behind such fictions.

I found such a station, not in the Cornhusker State but in Paris. It’s called France 24. I stumbled across it while searching for something on PBS World. France 24 covers events from around the globe. Its “World Roundup” broadcast this night fell on the eve of some U.S. elections, so France 24 devoted its “Truth or Fake” segment to a number of lies and distortions regarding the New York City mayoral race.

After the “Truth or Fake” reporter debunked a number of wild claims about the young man who would be the eventual winner, the news anchor asked her to surmise from her research and evidence what was the primary reason for all the misrepresentations. “Hypocrisy and racism,” she said.

This was neither a YouTube video, a TikTok, an expanded Snapchat nor an Instagram post. This was a professional journalist verifying crucial details using solid evidence to refute widely viewed, wildly inaccurate social media posts, some of which legacy media had used in news broadcasts.

I was simultaneously flabbergasted and refreshed, the idea that a major news outlet would present such fact-checking as part of its evening broadcast. (France 24 is a state-owned public station in competition with French private networks such as TF1 and BFM TV.)

Still, I was curious if “Truth or Fake” was a one off given the timing of the NYC election. Sure enough, the next night “Truth or Fake” spent another 5-7 minutes taking issue with Elon Musk’s claim that the ballot for NYC mayor was part of a scam, a hot air balloon of baloney that the reporter punctured. After some research, I found that “Truth or Fake” is a regular part of France 24’s “World Roundup” Monday through Thursday.

You’re right. Why trust “something like Truth or Fake” more than a friend on Facebook or a podcast we heard on the way to work or the dish or dirt we overheard at the coffee shop or even our local news stations or newspapers?

The answer has a little to do with my own trusted sources of information and even less than the information itself. It has plenty to do with whether the information agrees with what I already think and, most important, my ability to believe it when it doesn’t.

The real takeaway here is that at least France 24 is trying, attempting to ascertain the truth and report it. Others are trying, too. Some … not so much. In the post-truth age, when facts carry less influence than emotions and beliefs, the news industry — and its social media competitors — must remain a force for a well-informed democracy, without fear or favor when the government or the powerful traffic in or repeat lies and other assorted disinformation.

This force is the hope for Nebraskans when they pick up their morning papers, turn on their evening news or go online to get the latest.

Aside from nerds like me, who really pays attention to something like “Truth or Fake?” The point is that France 24 and anyone else who is pushing back on the constant lying, who is unwilling to accept evidence-free pronouncements from the government, online influencers or friends, or who is fact-checking and calling out the false is acting as if our aggregate future depends on it.

Pro tip: It does.

This story was published by Nebraska Examiner, an editorially independent newsroom providing a hard-hitting, daily flow of news. Read the original article: https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/11/10/truth-or-fake-refreshing-develop...

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