“The story began as a screenplay,” Davis remembers. “However we bought pissed off as a result of he had executed all this analysis, and I stored making an attempt to develop the characters and and the realities of how they’d behave. So we determined to make it a e book—there’s no web page restrict points that means!”
We spoke with Biggers and Davis about mixing truth and fiction they usually’re emotions in regards to the present state of journalism in America.
[This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity]
One of many issues I respect in regards to the e book is that—like an in-depth newspaper or journal function—it begins with a small incident after which pulls again to embody a wider perspective. It displays each of your expertise as journalists.
Andrew Davis: Properly, journalism is in a wierd state proper now. I used to be simply studying about ABC Information’ settlement over George Stephanopoulos‘ feedback about Donald Trump. The concept everyone’s bought to kiss the ring of the brand new president so as to not get subjugated to restrictions or lose their licenses is fairly wonderful. I feel again to being a university pupil and listening to Walter Cronkite. When he got here out in opposition to the Vietnam Battle, it was over! It took a very long time, nevertheless it did occur. Who’s the subsequent Cronkite now?
Jeff Biggers: In our story, the media performs a task in the course of the summit in Chicago, however we even have this rogue normal who is ready to create disinformation by way of expertise. Finally, individuals don’t know what’s actual anymore. We needed to tease readers with the concept that we’ve reached this age the place it’s laborious to inform what’s true and never true. The power to create [disinformation] and disseminate it’s a actually highly effective and harmful scenario.
It didn’t escape my consideration that the final goes on Fox Information to propagate his argument. Jeff, you’ve been a visitor on a number of of the information networks—the place does Fox slot in your impression of the present media panorama?
Biggers: It’s laborious to say, as a result of there are such a lot of offshoots of Fox now which are turning into as essential. I’m extra involved about our facet of the aisle when it comes to information media getting watered down and other people not plugging in and listening anymore. The listenership of NPR has dramatically gone down, and after the election you noticed MSNBC simply sort of plummet. Persons are getting plenty of their data from social media, and that’s not very in-depth.
