Reporters MUST band together and not cower when asking tough questions. I'm sick of the syncophanct behavior displayed by the WH press pool. There needs to be real time fact checking EVERY time orange twitler opens his mouth. EVERY time. Heck do it for any member of Congress too!
Also-shouldn't it be May 2018 not May 2008? I'll bet you are exhausted trying to keep up with the madness, so thanks for all you do to to NOT NORMALIZE this situation!!
Agreed, but after almost 4 years, it's clear that reporters will not change their behaviors. As it seems to be with so much these days, it's up to the consumer to change behaviors by refusing to support misinformation and propaganda. Reporters will not change of their own accord if their reporting results in greater revenues to their media outlets and more appearances on cable news. Consumers can 1) cancel subscriptions and clearly explain the reasons for their cancellations, 2) turn off cable shows that feature propagandist guests, 3) support independent journalists, 4) follow independent journalists and experts on social media, 5) support media that provides in-depth coverage of stories such as ProPublica, the New Yorker, the Atlantic, etc. Nothing will change unless consumers force change.
Yes completely agree! Especially about informing 'why' cancelling! I've become a Patreon to several good independent podcasts this past year-something I'd never done before (attitude was I'll just suffer through ads, NBD. ) And I enjoy the Atlantic but if more people read it I think there'd be more mass hysteria on just how bad this situation since 2016 really is...I've been recommending Gaslit Nation podcast for a couple years now-helps to know not alone when screaming into the void LOL
I continue to ask the same question...why does the public continue to support MSM? The NYT (which often features the most egregious takes of Trump) and the WSJ (which has drifted into a highbrow version of right-wing media) continue to enjoy record-breaking subscriptions. With no reckoning or accountability by the public vs immediate retribution from the WH, it's little surprise that reporters and editors take the easy way out most of the time. Even those reporters who retain their ethics tend to significantly soften their positions and downplay their reporting during cable news appearances. Until the public collectively demands that the 4th estate live up to their role in a functioning democracy, we will continue to see fail after fail by reporters.
"Access" to lies benefits no one but Trump. I can't pretend to understand how scores of reporters take so little pride in their work, but my question is why consumers support the spread of propaganda, 'both-sides journalism', and misinformation that threatens their livelihoods, health and safety, and in recent days, their very lives. Change occurs when people demand change. When we refuse to support media outlets that actively or passively support propaganda and distort reality, editors will be forced to run stories that disclose the brutal truth of this administration.
I think lots of consumers get caught up in Trump rhetoric abt how unbelievably hard the press is on Trump. Ie there’s widespread perception that press is dogging him at every turn. In truth, there’s ton of timidity and normalization
This timidity and normalization simply feed Trump's narrative that the press cannot be trusted. If reporters and journalists continue down this path, they will be the architects of their own destruction.
I presume the fact that the third piece was an opinion that the Post doesn’t need to clarify why they print articles saying completely opposite things. Why make clear what the truth is?
The WSJ is owned by Rupert Murdoch so it’s no surprise. Although before he bought it the editorial page was a major source of crazy right wing propaganda but the reporters were generally no worse than other major outlets. The editorial page under Robert Bartley was particularly crackers.
(Eric Boehlert. Article)Yesterday I appeared on MSNBC's "AM Joy" and we discussed Fox News' insanely reckless programming during this time of crisis. I made three key points:
Reporters MUST band together and not cower when asking tough questions. I'm sick of the syncophanct behavior displayed by the WH press pool. There needs to be real time fact checking EVERY time orange twitler opens his mouth. EVERY time. Heck do it for any member of Congress too!
Also-shouldn't it be May 2018 not May 2008? I'll bet you are exhausted trying to keep up with the madness, so thanks for all you do to to NOT NORMALIZE this situation!!
yes 2018 thanks. I fixed for folks reading via website.
totally agree abt need for collective action!
Agreed, but after almost 4 years, it's clear that reporters will not change their behaviors. As it seems to be with so much these days, it's up to the consumer to change behaviors by refusing to support misinformation and propaganda. Reporters will not change of their own accord if their reporting results in greater revenues to their media outlets and more appearances on cable news. Consumers can 1) cancel subscriptions and clearly explain the reasons for their cancellations, 2) turn off cable shows that feature propagandist guests, 3) support independent journalists, 4) follow independent journalists and experts on social media, 5) support media that provides in-depth coverage of stories such as ProPublica, the New Yorker, the Atlantic, etc. Nothing will change unless consumers force change.
all excellent points for news consumers. good news is I do a genuine appetite for folks seeking out new voices
Yes completely agree! Especially about informing 'why' cancelling! I've become a Patreon to several good independent podcasts this past year-something I'd never done before (attitude was I'll just suffer through ads, NBD. ) And I enjoy the Atlantic but if more people read it I think there'd be more mass hysteria on just how bad this situation since 2016 really is...I've been recommending Gaslit Nation podcast for a couple years now-helps to know not alone when screaming into the void LOL
I continue to ask the same question...why does the public continue to support MSM? The NYT (which often features the most egregious takes of Trump) and the WSJ (which has drifted into a highbrow version of right-wing media) continue to enjoy record-breaking subscriptions. With no reckoning or accountability by the public vs immediate retribution from the WH, it's little surprise that reporters and editors take the easy way out most of the time. Even those reporters who retain their ethics tend to significantly soften their positions and downplay their reporting during cable news appearances. Until the public collectively demands that the 4th estate live up to their role in a functioning democracy, we will continue to see fail after fail by reporters.
it is surprising and disappointing that reporters and editors opt so often fir the easy way out. At this point is “across” really worth it?
"Access" to lies benefits no one but Trump. I can't pretend to understand how scores of reporters take so little pride in their work, but my question is why consumers support the spread of propaganda, 'both-sides journalism', and misinformation that threatens their livelihoods, health and safety, and in recent days, their very lives. Change occurs when people demand change. When we refuse to support media outlets that actively or passively support propaganda and distort reality, editors will be forced to run stories that disclose the brutal truth of this administration.
I think lots of consumers get caught up in Trump rhetoric abt how unbelievably hard the press is on Trump. Ie there’s widespread perception that press is dogging him at every turn. In truth, there’s ton of timidity and normalization
This timidity and normalization simply feed Trump's narrative that the press cannot be trusted. If reporters and journalists continue down this path, they will be the architects of their own destruction.
I completely agree. press is setting its own trap
I am not sure what can explain this from the Washington Post:
March 13 headline under “Perspective”:
“I ran the White House pandemic office. Trump closed it.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/nsc-pandemic-office-trump-closed/2020/03/13/a70de09c-6491-11ea-acca-80c22bbee96f_story.html
March 14 headline under “National Security” - “Trump disbanded NSC pandemic unit that experts had praised”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-disbanded-nsc-pandemic-unit-that-experts-had-praised/2020/03/14/aa09132c-65ac-11ea-8a8e-5c5336b32760_story.html
Yesterday this article by Tim Morrison of the right wing Hudson Institute ran in the Opinion section:
“No, the White House didn’t ‘dissolve’ its pandemic response office. I was there.“
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-disbanded-nsc-pandemic-unit-that-experts-had-praised/2020/03/14/aa09132c-65ac-11ea-8a8e-5c5336b32760_story.html
I presume the fact that the third piece was an opinion that the Post doesn’t need to clarify why they print articles saying completely opposite things. Why make clear what the truth is?
WELL said Next steps!!
The WSJ is owned by Rupert Murdoch so it’s no surprise. Although before he bought it the editorial page was a major source of crazy right wing propaganda but the reporters were generally no worse than other major outlets. The editorial page under Robert Bartley was particularly crackers.
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2003/12/robert-l-bartley-both-sides-now.html
right, the WSJ editorial page has always been reckless. but prior to Murdoch, it’s newsroom was excellent
(Eric Boehlert. Article)Yesterday I appeared on MSNBC's "AM Joy" and we discussed Fox News' insanely reckless programming during this time of crisis. I made three key points:
(By Eric Boehlert, article)
Eric, just before I read this excellent essay, I read Joe Hagan's nails-on-the-blackboard "interview" with Tucker Carlson in Vanity Fair's HIVE. Your essay on Fox and Murdoch was restorative. Thank you! In case you are interested, here is the link https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/03/tucker-carlson-on-how-he-brought-coronavirus-message-to-mar-a-lago?
oh good! and thanks for sending