Its attitude, which it has preached and practiced, is skepticism.

Host: The afternoon light is soft, casting a gentle glow through the window of a quiet, dimly lit café. Outside, the world carries on, unaware of the quiet storm brewing inside. Jack and Jeeny sit across from each other, their coffee cups nearly untouched, as they watch the world through the glass. The air between them crackles with an unspoken tension, as if their conversation is about to ignite into something more.

Jack leans forward, his eyes intense, his voice steady but sharp.

Jack: “You know, Thomas Griffith hit the nail on the head with that quote. It’s the press’s own attitude — this constant skepticism — that’s come back to bite them. They’ve been preaching it for years, questioning everything, but now, the public’s started doing the same thing to them. Skepticism is a double-edged sword. They’ve spent so long tearing everything down, they didn’t realize they’d be the next target.”

Jeeny: “But isn’t that what the press is supposed to do, Jack? To question, to dig deep, to challenge everything? They’re the guardians of truth, and skepticism is part of their job. If people are questioning the press, it’s not the press’s fault. It’s because trust is a delicate thing. Once you lose it, it’s hard to get back. Doubt is the natural consequence of a fractured relationship.”

Host: Jack’s fingers tap lightly on the table, a subtle sign of his growing frustration. Jeeny’s gaze is steady, calm, as she carefully chooses her words. The world outside seems so far removed from the sharp words they exchange here.

Jack: “You really think it’s that simple, Jeeny? That the press is just doing its job? They’ve used their skepticism as a weapon, wielding it against politicians, corporations, the public. But now they’re being exposed. People don’t know who to trust anymore, because the press has lost its own credibility. They’ve become so fixated on questioning everything else that they’ve forgotten to question themselves. And now, the public is turning that skepticism back on them. It’s like they created their own monster.”

Jeeny: “I don’t see it that way. Skepticism isn’t the problem. The problem is when people confuse doubt with disinformation. The press may have failed at times, sure, but its role is still important. If the public is questioning the press, it’s not because skepticism is inherently bad — it’s because there’s a lack of accountability. The press has to own up to its mistakes, just like any other institution. Without that, skepticism becomes cynicism.”

Host: The quiet hum of the café contrasts with the growing tension in their voices. Jack leans back, his brows furrowing, deep in thought. Jeeny, however, seems more resolute, her voice firm but not angry.

Jack: “Sure, accountability matters. But how do you even begin to trust the press again when they’ve spent so many years playing fast and loose with the truth? When every headline is sensationalized, and every story is pushed for clicks and ratings? The media has invited the skepticism by making its own integrity questionable. People no longer know what to believe. How can you respect the institution when it has been so blatantly self-serving?”

Jeeny: “That’s exactly what I’m saying, Jack. Skepticism in the press is necessary. It should always be questioning. But the public has taken that skepticism and turned it into distrust. The press has made mistakes, yes, but so has the public. The truth isn’t always simple, and it isn’t always comfortable. The real issue is that both sides are so entrenched in their views that they’ve forgotten to look for the truth together. The media has to be accountable, yes, but so do the people who consume the news. You can’t just blame the press for everything.”

Host: The conversation pauses for a moment, as if the storm outside is mirrored in their words. Jack’s gaze softens, but his stance remains firm. Jeeny remains focused, her hands gently folded on the table. The room around them feels smaller now, more intimate, as if their words have weight in this space.

Jack: “I’m not saying the press shouldn’t question things. They should. But they’ve lost the trust of the people by not questioning their own practices. The public has learned to question everything, including the ones who are supposed to inform them. It’s a vicious cycle. People don’t trust the press because they’ve been trained to doubt everything, and now that skepticism is turned inward. It’s no longer just about whether the news is true — it’s about whether the source can be trusted at all.”

Jeeny: “But that’s what the press has to earn back, Jack. It’s earned this doubt through its own actions, sure. But change happens when we stop assuming everything is corrupt and start demanding better. The public can’t just point fingers. They need to hold the media to a higher standard, but they also need to remember that the press’s role is to challenge the status quo. If we lose that, what are we left with? A world where no one asks the hard questions?”

Host: The silence that follows is not one of tension but of reflection. Their words, though still heavy, have started to shift in meaning. The weight of their debate lingers in the air, but now, it seems more like an understanding than a battle. Jack leans back slightly, a small sigh escaping his lips as the rain begins to slow, its rhythmic beat against the window softer now.

Jack: “Maybe you’re right. It’s not about destroying the skepticism, but about finding a balance. The press has to be more transparent, more accountable, but the public has to be willing to trust — or at least, be willing to listen before jumping to conclusions.”

Jeeny: “Exactly. We need both sides to acknowledge their responsibility in all of this. The press has to question, but the public has to understand that skepticism can’t be a free pass to dismiss everything outright. Trust is a two-way street, Jack. The press needs to earn it back, but the public has to be willing to give it.”

Host: As their conversation fades into the quiet hum of the café, the soft light around them seems to settle into a more peaceful glow. Outside, the rain has stopped, and the city, still uncertain, waits for the next story to unfold — one of skepticism, but also of trust, of accountability, and of the understanding that both the press and the public have a role to play in the search for truth.