How do we know, individually and collectively, what is true in the digital age? Mary E. McCoy interrogates the practical strategies by which publics attempt to differentiate fact from fabrication in an era dominated by digital media.

The book situates this inquiry within a historical continuum, tracing the shift from the documentary authority of print culture and legacy journalism to the algorithmic gatekeeping of social platforms, where attention-not accuracy-drives dissemination.

Drawing on global case studies - from the viral spread of false news to the weaponization of social platforms by populist leaders - McCoy reveals how modern publics navigate a fragmented media landscape. Each chapter probes a distinct heuristic for truth-seeking, whether through investigative journalism, the narrative arc of scandal, the allure of authenticity in entertainment genres, or the radical reconstruction of historical memory online. McCoy argues that the crisis of truth is not merely a media problem but a societal one, demanding new forms of literacy, accountability, and civic engagement. McCoy offers both diagnosis and direction, charting a path toward a future where shared standards of evidence can be reclaimed.