January 7, 2016 was a frigid night in Burlington, Vermont
particularly with the winds coming off Lake Champlain. Nevertheless, America’s
media was there in full force to cover the event. No, it was not the anticipated
arrival of Queen Elizabeth nor the return of a manned spacecraft from
Mars. Donald Trump was coming to town
and his campaign had distributed more tickets to supporters than the theater
could hold. Now, that is a crisis and the ever-alert TV media was right on top
of it. The local constabulary was interviewed and they issued all the proper
and expected words of assurance that all was under control.
Further, we had the media’s finest reporters on hand to make
certain that we, the public, did not miss a single step as Donald Trump descended
from his plane.
Following another performance of rambling observations,
America’s best and brightest political analysts came forth to give us the true
meaning of the event.
So it goes in the life of Donald Trump and the interpretative
media that follows him. I am largely referring to the non-news-news cable TV
stations such as Fox on the right and MSNBC on the left. Their obsession with
Trump and his meandering mind has less to do with politics and political bias
and everything to do with ratings and money. They gain market share thereby
creating more profit and the commentators and analysts not only achieve
financial success via exposure but it also sells books and drives speaking
fees. In brief, it is a pathway to
wealth and they do not disclose a thing.
Their power has also helped reshape how our nation picks its
leaders. I would contend that they are on a par with the benefactors of the
court decision known as Citizens United
which empowered the wealthy with increased political clout.
This rigging of coverage has clearly impacted the ability of
other presidential candidates to get their message out. Simply stated, the
allocation of time accorded them is a fraction of the limelight heaped on
Trump. How can candidates with experience and accomplishment succeed in a media
environment that rewards outrageous celebrity and then expresses surprise that
the candidates they failed to cover perform so poorly in the polls?
Rather then acknowledge openly the role of TV ratings and
money, these self-appointed political experts marvel at Trump’s ability to gain
free media. That is akin to Al Capone wondering aloud why old Chicago’s judges
and police were corrupt.
In the process, this misbehavior has contributed to the
advancement of the absurd notion that experience and accomplishment are
liabilities. Certainly, a rational person needing brain surgery does not seek
the services of an orderly on the grounds that he lacks experience and,
therefore, must be highly qualified.
Now, some will say that many of these commentators and
analysts are critical of Trump and his message.
This is certainly true. However, the fact remains that they are enablers
in that they willingly give Trump an unfair advantage in getting his name and
message out to his audience while
drastically limiting the ability of other candidates to get their persona and
message to their audiences. And the
driving force behind this fundamental unfairness is ratings and money.
Our Constitution grants the media special rights because our
founders understood the vital role news plays in a democratic society. Having
news coverage determined or even influenced by ratings (money) is a direct
assault on the ability of a people in a democracy to be properly informed.
It is time the spotlight went on the ratings game which is
really what determines coverage. Walter Cronkite held that news should be about
the seeking of truth governed by appropriate journalistic standards of
fairness. Today, it is more about generating controversy and, all too often,
obscuring the truth in the pursuit of profit.
This all goes to the heart of what is essential to a
democracy. We deserve better – we must have better.
Yes. I also used your example of asking an orderly to do brain surgery. You didn't mention CNN. Living in an assisted living facility in Jordan I watch that network a lot. I am constantly upset of their wall to wall coverage of what Trump says.
ReplyDeleteDear Governor:
ReplyDeleteYou are the only Republican I voted for twice, to boot!. I came back and re-read this blog after 6 months because this blog post is particularly insightful about the state of media, and the truth about one Donald Trump.
Thank you and God bless.
Sincerely,
Henock Gugsa
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This iss a great post thanks
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