One of the casualties of the Trump era is the mainstream media, who, for reasons best known to themselves, continue through their own actions to damage their reputations values and performance.
For the second time in recent days a number of networks in the States cut away from what was being said at the White House.
They cut away over the weekend when Trump was speaking. Some networks decided they didn’t like what he was saying, didn’t agree with it, thought it was false, so that was the end of that.
Kayleigh McEnany, White House spokesperson, got the same treatment yesterday.
Now, there’s a simple truth in a world of misinformation and untruths. Donald Trump is still the president.
The official side of the equation has not been sorted and won’t be for some days. In other words, the way these things work is that it generally becomes apparent as to what has happened in the election and a series of people, most notably the media along generally with the parties themselves, accept the outcome.
That’s slightly different this time. Trump of course doesn’t accept it, and no shortage of people in the Republican Party seem to think at the very least he should chasing some sort of resolution through the courts.
But while all that is going on, the last of the votes are still being counted and eventually an announcement will be made on the result.
Even at that point, even if Trump loses all his court battles, he is still the President until January next year. And as such, has the right to be treated as President because he is.
The simple reality is that, all over the world, a lot of strange unusual often dishonest material is passed off as fact or policy or promises at the highest of levels.
The media, especially the main stream media who still openly purport to be fair and balanced, have a duty to report it. So this new approach of editing as we go will do them then yet more damage in a world where their reputations range from questionable to outright trashed.
Another irony of course is their ongoing insistence on neutrality when no such thing exists. They are not fair or balanced or remotely neutral, the crime being they pretend they are.
So let’s have some rules, shall we?
If you hate Trump, always did and are now loving his demise, at least stick your hand up and say so, so that when you cut away from the office of the President we at least get why.
Otherwise, the job remains as it always has: to cover the office, not the President.
To inform, not editorialise, to be impartial in a way that actually shows you are, as opposed to the circus being offered up currently.
Mike Hosking is a New Zealand television and radio broadcaster. He currently hosts The Mike Hosking Breakfast show on NewstalkZB on weekday mornings.
8 comments:
In the closing paragraph of H.L. Menken’s “Notes on Journalism” column in the September 19, 1926 edition of the Chicago Tribune, he penned ... “No one in this world, so far as I know — and I have searched the records for years, and employed agents to help me — has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.”
Today’s mainstream media (MSM) are obviously well aware of this simple truth. Social engineering (aka fake news), censorship, identity politics and, more recently, the rise of “cancel culture” are now the MSM’s weapons of choice. Only a complete idiot would allow their intelligence to be insulted by believing the garbage that the MSM are serving-up each day as “news” .... and that, unfortunately, includes all of New Zealand’s MSM as well.
Fortunately the internet offers some hope for those of us seeking unbiased, truthful and informative journalism. NZCPR is a great place to start your journey. In the meantime .... here’s a good laugh to start your day
https://brandnewtube.com/watch/the-most-dangerous-disease-in-the-world-intelligence_lRmqsTQVyfLCZva.html
Sadly, mainstream media has been that way for quite some time - not just in covering the US election result. Man-made climate change is a glaring example of selective reporting of "the science" (a term used to imply to the public that there is only one view).
The only way to fix it is for the public to vote with their feet and switch off. As ratings drop then capitalism kicks in and networks are forced to give their viewers what they want or go bust.
Unfortunately, a large majority of the public seem content to believe what is fed to them without questioning it or seeking out alternative views.
FoxNews is finding out the hard way. They have bought in a "Crisis Management" team to help them out and it has only been a week since the election.
Lecture 1 in any Business 101 course tells you, know and understand your customers. Even kids on lemonade stands know that. FoxNews bosses must have missed the lecture.
An honest and true view, thankyou.
I thought it highly insulting for anyone to be treated like that, far less one of the most important people in the land. Well said Mike - you're one of the few in MSM now I bother to listen to.
The key to understanding this phenomenon lies in the question posed in the 1st paragraph of Mike's article i.e. "for reasons best known to themselves".
The unelected government in the US that is responsible for policy continuing along much the same lines no matter which political party holds the position of president or control of congress and/or the senate does control(actually owns it in many cases) most of the MSM and more importantly serves the interests of those who provide the money for lobbying and other "influencing" of the political class.
It's encapsulated in the statement: If voting made any difference to the well being of the average American it would be made illegal.
All power and influence to you Mike. A ray of common sense in this chaotic world. Let them try and silence you,,!!! Bev
I concur with you Mike, keep up the good work you are doing. The MSM are a sham.
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