“I hope the left-leaning elements of journalism (of which I would be a card-carrying member if we actually printed cards) take a minute for reflection before moving onto blaming only fake news and Russian hacking for the rise of Trump.”
To every left leaning person on the globe, Trump’s rise has been so shocking and unexpected that we never could have seen it coming. Alright, maybe every person is a generalisation, but I am yet to meet or hear of someone who predicted a Trump win whilst standing behind Clinton. With the continual rhetoric from left leaning media it was hard not to brush off Trump’s advance as nothing more than a funny yet sad novelty. Trump’s policies and values was so removed from the media’s own that they portrayed a Trump victory as impossible and ridiculous. This perception only added fire to the fuel for Trump supporters, as they became angrier and angrier the more they were dismissed as backward thinking hillbillies. I imagine that Donald’s famous smirk rains down upon the media who shunned him and his followers, and to be honest, everything pro Trump has a right to rub our faces in it a little bit. There is a lesson in this for the future for those entering the media. Arrogance and superiority can lead to people feeling unheard and dismissed, and journalists should report on all edges of the political spectrum with balance. Personal views are the pillars of our free speaking Australian society, but the media should understand that their opinions have significant weight and consequence. Just look at old mate Trump for evidence of this.
“2017 may be the year Facebook gets permanently branded as part of the problem.”
Facebook is the number one news source for millennials. It’s scary, but it’s true. 2017 could well be a landmark year for realising where the media went wrong. For accessibility and popularity, Facebook is the best thing since sliced bread. For reliability and accountability, Facebook is the worst thing since Like Mike 2. I think that the fake news phenomenon can be blamed partly on Facebook. I don’t want to bash Facebook, but a Facebookless media kind of sits well with me. I have to face reality and understand that Facebook is here to stay, but I still think that it should be held accountable for the mistrust the journalists are faced with by the public. If Facebook is recognised as being part of the problem, media outlets posting on Facebook might change their approach. All I’m asking for is a quick fact check in the mad rush to be first to publish, is that too much to ask?
