"Its attitude, which it has preached and practiced, is skepticism. Now, it finds, the public is applying that skepticism to the press"

This quote by Thomas Griffith is describing journalism and its mindset towards the general public. The press has actually been preaching and practicing uncertainty, now the public is turning that uncertainty back onto the press. This suggests that the public is becoming more aware of the press's agenda and is questioning the precision of the details they are getting. This might be due to the rise of alternative news sources, such as social networks, which have made it much easier for individuals to gain access to different perspectives and opinions. As a result, the public is becoming more crucial of the press and is no longer taking their details at stated value. This could have a substantial influence on the press, as it could result in a decline in trust and reliability.