There is a major over correction happening within the news media and it is about to become even more difficult for REAL journalists.
For definition sake please accept the following as a REAL journalist:
Removes themselves from the story
Envokes thought and not emotion
Amplifies both left and right sides of the political story equally
Lets the audience decide where to stand on an issue
These are the four things real journalists do – many today do not and fail to recognize their own bias within a story.
Yes, most of the legacy media outlets are left leaning. This does not mean you ban them from the White House press briefing room. Instead what the White House should be doing is welcome more opposition and shut them down verbally with the truth.
Instead, the political right are now trying to control the narrative which was long held by the left leaning outlets. Not to be left behind, but even Jake Tapper is trying to get onboard with this new ideology by publishing his new book “Original Sin.”
The premise surrounds President Biden’s mental decline (which only right leaning outlets reported on before the June 2024 debate) and the cover-up of said decline (which again, only right leaning outlets called out). I’m sure his ghost writers had an easy time writing this as there is ample evidence of Biden’s slow down.
However, the challenge for his PR team is how to get around the hundreds – if not thousands – of clips with Tapper saying phrases like, “It’s a conspiracy theory to say Biden has cognitive decline. It’s a stutter.” Sure, Tapper may have asked Biden in 2022 about his cognitive ability but taking the then-President’s word on his health after the several mishaps is not journalism. It’s propaganda.
The move by Tapper is similar to that of MSNBC. They are trying to sell themselves both literally and figuratively. The network is going to get spun off into a new company dubbed “SpinCo,” along with CNBC and other Comcast-owned outlets. This hasn’t stopped billionaires on the left and right have made offers to buy the number two cable news outlet.
Regardless of which plan actually pans out, there is one thing we all know when it comes to a sale or spin off company: layoffs are inevitable. Which is why Joy Reid and the other 99 other staffers who were let go shouldn’t be surprised. As one great host once told me, “You haven’t truly worked in news until you’ve been laid off.”
The commonly used cost saving measure did have one anchor calling foul play and placed a target on her, and her team’s, back. Rachel Maddow broke what should be a cardinal rule in any newsroom, “Don’t shoot in the tent.” I know, it’s ironic to suggest the MSNBC host follow the advice of Roger Ailes but even a broken clock is right twice a day.
The network is attempting to become more center as they prepare to rebrand. Reid is just one of the many leftist anchors caught in the cross fire. While this may increase cashflow it will likely result in a loss of viewership because the viewers who are expecting an anchor to call Elon Musk a Nazi will no longer be there. I don’t condone this behavior, but if the network overcorrects too much it could result in CNN-esque results (aka ratings tanking). The media over correction in the White House press briefing room is no different.
By inviting influencers, podcasters, TikTokers, and all those who are not from actual media outlets (regardless of the political slant) to the White House Press Briefing room at the expense of the Associate Press is dangerous.
Yes, for more than 100 years, the AP has been accused of “poisoning the well” but, regardless, they have demonstrated an ability to show up and hand out. Call me old school but inviting the new wave of ‘newsies’ is not equipped for this. Furthermore, this now sets a bad precedent.
If the Trump White House can boot out the AP, the next Democratic-led White House can boot out Fox News and Newsmax. Either way, it’s not leading to fact-based journalism. It’s leading to perpetuated bias and further decisively dividing the country.
This affects real journalists very simply. Since real journalists don’t pander to either side they will be left out to dry. Algorithms are only amplifying voices on the extreme left or right because this is what keeps people engaged and clicking. The spitefulness of the White House against left leaning and left wing outlets and replacing them with influencers is dangerous and gives way to more propaganda and less informative news (Which is what we could actually use right now).
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Krystina Alarcon Carroll is a news media columnist and features writer for Barrett Media. She has experience in almost every facet of the industry including: digital and print news; live, streamed, and syndicated TV; documentary and film productions. Her prior employers have included NY1 and Fox News Digital and the Law & Crime Network. You can find Krystina on X (formerly twitter) @KrystinaAlaCarr.
