Claims of fake news, media bias and spin threaten to undermine confidence in the very value of a free press in our society. While
there is plenty of room for criticism in how the media covers the news, the very act of seeking the truth and shedding light on it is
more important than ever.  Why does truth matter and how do we recognize it?

Jane Seagrave, a journalist and media executive, has been publisher of the Vineyard Gazette since 2011. Previously, she was senior vice president and chief revenue officer for The Associated Press in New York.  A graduate of Bowdoin College, she received a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University. She lives in West Tisbury with her husband, John Kennedy, who teaches media law and ethics at Boston University. They are longtime Unitarian Universalists.