Michael Schudson, professor of journalism, examines news-making and news institutions in relation to democratic theory and practice, to the economic crisis that affects many news organizations today and to recent discussions of “fake news.” In contrast to those who suggest that journalism has had its day, Schudson argues that journalism has become more important than ever. For the public to be swayed from positions they have already staked out, and for government officials to respond to charges that they behaved corruptly or unconstitutionally or simply rashly and unwisely, the information has to come from organizations that hold themselves to the highest standards of verification, fact-checking, and independent and original research, exactly what professional journalism aspires to do.