"We are active rather than passive participants in the process and nature of truth. ...[Now] we might say that the obligation of the media is not to convey the truth honestly (because the truth cannot be known) but to convey the idea that there are a range of (acceptable and equally valid) perceptions."

Correspondence Theory – a proposition is true if it accurately describes reality as it is. Reality imposes what is true upon us – in so far as the Truth is out there. The most traditional of “truth” theories.

Coherence Theory – a proposition is true if it meshes with other propositions thought to be true (which may not necessarily describe reality as such). For example, Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings establishes a world in which it might be true to say Wizards exist because this proposition meshes with the set of propositions that together describe Tolkien’s world.

Pragmatic Theory – the truth is what works, or what someone wants reality to be. For example, if the existence of Santa Claus makes you happier then why not believe in him? Particularly if this belief extends your possibility of receiving presents!


Level 1 – Transcendental Truth,
Journalists cannot ascent to this level. It is beyond the journalist and all of us. A total truth and naturally it cannot be found or communicated.

Level 2 – Potential Truth.
This truth is composed of the aspects of Transcendental Truth that can possibly be grasped by human perception, research and rationality.

Level 3 – Selected Truth.
This is part of the Potential Truth that has been observed, recorded in notes, tape or film by the journalist. Thus, it is the raw material for a story.

Level 4 – Reported Truth.
This is part of the Selected Truth that the journalist actually reports. It is the most important part of the truth in the sense that it is the level that represents an event in reality. It is the part of the truth that the journalist can control.

Level 5 – Audience – perceived Truth.
It is the lowest level of truth in the process of message entropy. The journalist has absolutely no control over the amount of truth that he or she has on this level."