Once the news reports departed from the truth far away, the need of the audience in communication activities will not be met, which will tend to undermine the spreading effect.

当新闻作品背离事件真相过远时，受众的传播活动需要得不到满足，往往会破坏传播效果。

youdao

By doing so, they undermine the basic premise that there are pieces of information and data that are facts, truth without explanation.

FORBES: The Death of the Fact

But defence lawyers may be able to undermine the credibility of witnesses who have an incentive to blame their former bosses, irrespective of the truth.

ECONOMIST: The Enron drama goes to trial | The