In this age of instant information, anyone can broadcast their opinions to the world, or use AI to create buzz, whether true or not. The power to control and manipulate information has never been more available, nor more dangerous. Disinformation and misinformation thrive, not because of malice alone, but because of carelessness, speed, and the lure of influence. Like all powers, this one depends on how responsibly you use it.

Consider this


In 2001, when new editor Marty Baron arrived at The Boston Globe, he asked a simple but deadly question: why hadn’t the Catholic Church sexual abuse scandal been fully investigated? With his backing, a small team of investigative journalists, the Spotlight team, began digging into long-buried allegations.

And what they found was shocking. But they didn’t rush to publish. They took their time, spending months checking and rechecking their facts, verifying their sources, and tracking down court records, in order to build an airtight case. 

They knew they had to get it right, because the Catholic Church was a revered institution in Boston, deeply tied to its civic identity. They knew that what they would uncover would upturn lives, both those of victims as well as perpetrators. And so they held back, and only went public when they had sufficient proof. The result was a groundbreaking series of over 600 articles that exposed a systemic cover-up and ultimately led to a global reckoning. In 2003, their discipline and courage earned them the Pulitzer Prize. Even more importantly, it restored a sense of truth to those whose allegations had been ignored or dismissed. 

Putting it into play


It’s easy to share a juicy rumor, vent online, or retweet a claim without verification. But just because you can share something, it doesn’t mean you should. Power lies not just in speaking out, but in pausing, checking, and using discipline and diligence to ensure its accuracy and to consider its impact. The real power of information comes not just from having it, but from handling it with care.