Pat Wandling: Journalism needs a makeover
Trust in the media is at an all-time low, which is quite stunning. So let’s think about journalism and its vital role, beginning with the First Amendment.
Free speech and a free press are among the guarantees in the First Amendment, the bedrock of our democracy. And those freedoms are swirling in today’s virulent political atmosphere, seemingly since Donald Trump came down that escalator more than five years ago.
Historically, the noble profession of journalism is a means for change – anchored by the mission of maintaining public trust. Journalists should be unbiased and inquisitive truth-seekers. I set my sights on journalism when I was 11 years old, enthralled by a smoky newsroom and roaring presses. I spent much of my adult life in print and broadcast journalism, always believing we were charged with getting it right.
Today, news, marketing, advertising and opinion overlap – and are a click away. Anything, including news, can be sent around the world from a laptop in a kitchen, without a shred of accountability! And that, too, is part of the dilemma. I like to think the best part of journalism is that it effects change, redresses public grievances, and shines a light on the dark side.
Nevertheless, I have a growing concern about journalism – the mainstream media in particular – and how it functions in an overcharged political environment. Notably, Trump is not popular with the mainstream media he accuses of “fake news,” nor are many of his fans.
Media trackers note Trump has been subjected to more negative stories, more lawsuits, and more lower-court interference in federal matters than any other president – it’s not even close. Prior to the last presidential election, Trump’s negatives were sought and highlighted in prime time; court dates were timed throughout the campaign and always topped the news.
Meanwhile, President Biden was sheltered from the light, namely his declining health, his absences, the failure in Afghanistan, the political coup that took him off the ballot, or son Hunter Biden’s shady business dealings, which were erroneously labeled “disinformation” by the mainstream media – or ignored.
Clearly, journalism needs a makeover. There are journalists today who are passionate about the truth, committed to accuracy, and unbiased in their approach to the story, while the aforementioned, found in the mainstream media, run the risk of remaining unbelievable.
Pat Wandling hosts “Speak Your Piece” weekdays at noon on WBCB 1490.
