My latest column is a call to arms for young journalists. We’ve heard a lot about professionals getting fired up about covering the Trump administration. But it should be noted that young people are feeling it too — even if they’re not heading to Washington. Fact is, there are great stories all around and accountability to be demanded at every level. My column…
President Trump calls the media “the enemy of the American people,” and now the young journalists I know are ready to go to war.
They’re not out to fight their fellow citizens, of course. Instead, they feel emboldened to hold power accountable — Trump, other elected officials, corporations, business executives — and want to tell honest stories about Washington affecting and ignoring people. I asked my students about how Trump’s animosity influences their career goals. They had ready answers:
• “It’s pushing me to make sure my stories are as credible and accurate as they can be. There’s no room for fake news.”
• “I won’t read editorials and opinion any more. I just read hard news.”
• “Now with everything going on, I feel like I need to be in the loop.”
• “It’s just really important to get the facts because who knows what are the facts and the alternate facts?” Read more…
One note: A reader wrote me after this appeared to say I was engaging in fake news by saying Trump declared war on all the media — rather than just the ones he deems “fake.” I deleted the email rather than respond. But let me note here that Trump’s tweet specifically mentioned the New York Times, NBC, ABC, CBS and CNN. This an attack on THE MEDIA. For further evidence, see comments by chief White House strategist Steve Bannon, saying, “The media here is the opposition party.”
Andrew Conte 