Margaret, I too was a student journalist and it led to my first full-time job at a small newspaper. So kudos to you for supporting students and hope for the future of journalism.
I am an admirer but your posts are too infrequent for a "crisis." Also, they should provide your perspective on what is happening in journalism as the crisis unfolds (as you can see, I am happy to offer my opinions but I'm here because I want to read yours).
So here's my opinion: Traditional media is not capable of covering this presidential election effectively. Example? The NYT calls a 9/11 denier racist lunatic that is in Trump's inner circle a "far-right activist." Wouldn't a more specific truth be better? There are many more examples of journalistic contortions in the name of balance, fairness, or whatever. With each, journalism becomes a little less relevant and essential to society.
It’s difficult to be optimistic about the media while the MSM continuously normalizes Trump and Vance. These people are fascists yet are reported as if they are part of a traditional political process. We may pay dearly for the media’s “both sides journalism.” Why are Vance’s cat comments news? What about Trump’s support for American Nazis? What’s going on with Trump and the Russians? Not worthy of reporting? Edward R Murrow has indeed left the building. Good for the kids. They are our only hope.
Re: The debate coverage. Sure, the “their eating our pets” hoax caught everyone’s attention because we wondered if he would go there. Of course he would. And yes, it was outrageous because it said so much about him and the media ecosystem. But there were two other points in the debate that merited much deeper coverage than they got because he threw out the pet chum. 1. He refused to say that he supported Ukraine in the war against Russian aggression. Muir gave him two chances. He wouldn’t do it. 2. He refused to say that he would veto a national abortion ban, even throwing his vice presidential nominee under the bus for saying that he would. Both of those points deserved ample follow up coverage in the hours and days after the debate. They got eclipsed by pet consumption story line. Is this the work of a political chess master trying to outmaneuver journalists? (He’s not that smart.) It’s us. We always respond to the shiny objects he dangles before us.
It is more than sad that a candidate for VP can knowingly and intentionally lie about a group of people living in Springfield, OH and keep reiterating that lie while acknowledging it is false.
Yes, there is freedom of speech but malicious lies that upend a community, causing school closings, is akin to shouting fire in a crowded movie theater!
Vance should be arrested for disturbing the peace, for singling out a group of legal immigrants in what is clearly a racist attack. His claims have no basis is fact and are malicious, false and should no longer be reported. I
The press wants to sell newspapers on these lies by Vance and Trump. One more failing by newspapers that claim they print all the news that is fit to print or that democracy dies in darkness.
The reporting of the student journalists is encouraging but it is just a blip on the media main screen these days. Once they leave the nurturing confines of j-schools, they will (if fortunate) get scooped up by the corporate media who will not be as kind to them as academia. I once thought hometown papers might carry the torch of reportage but the diminution of the Buffalo News has put that theory to rout. I have long maintained that the U.S. has the best government money can buy. Little has changed that contention. Our country is being smothered by runaway greed and rather than reporting on that, the corporations controlling mainstream media outlets have joined the campaign. Profit is righteously a concern but putting objectivity up for sale is a gross abdication of what an effective fourth estate might have been and, more importantly, what we deserve.
Today's news about a large number of Reagan administration officials coming out for Harris seems to be worth a lot more attention. So far I've seen it only on the Gen Z Perspective Substack and a couple of TikToks following on. Again, youngsters are doing it right.
My greatest pleasure the last 12 years was teaching and mentoring journalism students at St. John's Uni., in Queens, NY. One just graduated from Columbia Grad journalism program and is on a reporting internship (oh, for more starter real jobs!) in hot Central California. Others have gone to other news organizations,esp. TV news, and many to law schools, where the ability to write a crisp, cogent, jargon-free sentences is valued. Many students were editors or writers at the SJU Torch, and in class, one hard-charging editor would sometimes be distracted by her reporting. I told her to send me a hand or visual message if she had a deadline. One morning she whispered "breaking news" and ran out of class. She had confirmed the university president had just resigned (no malfeasance) and went to break the story on the Torch website. Proud of all of them!
Margaret, as a former SPLC board chair, I couldn't be more grateful for your generosity in putting the spotlight on the work these young journalists are doing, and the critical role they're playing as more and more communities lose their voices. Our love affairs with this crazy, impossible and vital profession both started early, and one of the things that's give me hope is watching you fight for good journalism to adapt and survive. Thank you!
Yes. Disqualifying acts. But I've been asking myself and others for several days; Why are Trump and Vance not under arrest for inciting violence in Springfield? Any thoughts?
I was a journalist in college, sort of. I was the first woman to do sports at the campus tv station, but I only did it for one semester. I basically interviewed a different coach every week. Not much was happening at Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. It never occurred to me to do any investigative reporting. I love that college students these days are paying attention to the world and not taking injustice silently. Good for them.
Margaret, I too was a student journalist and it led to my first full-time job at a small newspaper. So kudos to you for supporting students and hope for the future of journalism.
I am an admirer but your posts are too infrequent for a "crisis." Also, they should provide your perspective on what is happening in journalism as the crisis unfolds (as you can see, I am happy to offer my opinions but I'm here because I want to read yours).
So here's my opinion: Traditional media is not capable of covering this presidential election effectively. Example? The NYT calls a 9/11 denier racist lunatic that is in Trump's inner circle a "far-right activist." Wouldn't a more specific truth be better? There are many more examples of journalistic contortions in the name of balance, fairness, or whatever. With each, journalism becomes a little less relevant and essential to society.
It’s difficult to be optimistic about the media while the MSM continuously normalizes Trump and Vance. These people are fascists yet are reported as if they are part of a traditional political process. We may pay dearly for the media’s “both sides journalism.” Why are Vance’s cat comments news? What about Trump’s support for American Nazis? What’s going on with Trump and the Russians? Not worthy of reporting? Edward R Murrow has indeed left the building. Good for the kids. They are our only hope.
Re: The debate coverage. Sure, the “their eating our pets” hoax caught everyone’s attention because we wondered if he would go there. Of course he would. And yes, it was outrageous because it said so much about him and the media ecosystem. But there were two other points in the debate that merited much deeper coverage than they got because he threw out the pet chum. 1. He refused to say that he supported Ukraine in the war against Russian aggression. Muir gave him two chances. He wouldn’t do it. 2. He refused to say that he would veto a national abortion ban, even throwing his vice presidential nominee under the bus for saying that he would. Both of those points deserved ample follow up coverage in the hours and days after the debate. They got eclipsed by pet consumption story line. Is this the work of a political chess master trying to outmaneuver journalists? (He’s not that smart.) It’s us. We always respond to the shiny objects he dangles before us.
It is more than sad that a candidate for VP can knowingly and intentionally lie about a group of people living in Springfield, OH and keep reiterating that lie while acknowledging it is false.
Yes, there is freedom of speech but malicious lies that upend a community, causing school closings, is akin to shouting fire in a crowded movie theater!
Vance should be arrested for disturbing the peace, for singling out a group of legal immigrants in what is clearly a racist attack. His claims have no basis is fact and are malicious, false and should no longer be reported. I
The press wants to sell newspapers on these lies by Vance and Trump. One more failing by newspapers that claim they print all the news that is fit to print or that democracy dies in darkness.
The “free” press is not serving its readers. I
The reporting of the student journalists is encouraging but it is just a blip on the media main screen these days. Once they leave the nurturing confines of j-schools, they will (if fortunate) get scooped up by the corporate media who will not be as kind to them as academia. I once thought hometown papers might carry the torch of reportage but the diminution of the Buffalo News has put that theory to rout. I have long maintained that the U.S. has the best government money can buy. Little has changed that contention. Our country is being smothered by runaway greed and rather than reporting on that, the corporations controlling mainstream media outlets have joined the campaign. Profit is righteously a concern but putting objectivity up for sale is a gross abdication of what an effective fourth estate might have been and, more importantly, what we deserve.
Today's news about a large number of Reagan administration officials coming out for Harris seems to be worth a lot more attention. So far I've seen it only on the Gen Z Perspective Substack and a couple of TikToks following on. Again, youngsters are doing it right.
Good point. Still waiting for W’s statement..
My greatest pleasure the last 12 years was teaching and mentoring journalism students at St. John's Uni., in Queens, NY. One just graduated from Columbia Grad journalism program and is on a reporting internship (oh, for more starter real jobs!) in hot Central California. Others have gone to other news organizations,esp. TV news, and many to law schools, where the ability to write a crisp, cogent, jargon-free sentences is valued. Many students were editors or writers at the SJU Torch, and in class, one hard-charging editor would sometimes be distracted by her reporting. I told her to send me a hand or visual message if she had a deadline. One morning she whispered "breaking news" and ran out of class. She had confirmed the university president had just resigned (no malfeasance) and went to break the story on the Torch website. Proud of all of them!
Great story, Wayne . Thanks for sharing.
Margaret, as a former SPLC board chair, I couldn't be more grateful for your generosity in putting the spotlight on the work these young journalists are doing, and the critical role they're playing as more and more communities lose their voices. Our love affairs with this crazy, impossible and vital profession both started early, and one of the things that's give me hope is watching you fight for good journalism to adapt and survive. Thank you!
You’re most welcome. I’ve admired SPLC’s mission for a long time.
Yes. Disqualifying acts. But I've been asking myself and others for several days; Why are Trump and Vance not under arrest for inciting violence in Springfield? Any thoughts?
I suppose it would need to be more direct, Kathaleen. Otherwise, it’s speech (however appalling) that is protected by the First Amendment.
Hi. I’d like to invoke the “Don’t yell fire in a crowded theater “ rule.
I was a journalist in college, sort of. I was the first woman to do sports at the campus tv station, but I only did it for one semester. I basically interviewed a different coach every week. Not much was happening at Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. It never occurred to me to do any investigative reporting. I love that college students these days are paying attention to the world and not taking injustice silently. Good for them.