Former Chicago Tribune editor Mark Jacob and Journalism Prof. Jelani Cobb slammed the current reporting of Right-Wing false equivalences.
Right-Wing false equivalences
It is ironic that Mark Jacob has just come to the realization that the mainstream media was complicit in making the Republicans and the Right-Wing plausible to the American people. Had they reported as they should, Americans would have realized that their failed ideology would hurt most.
Lawrence O’Donnell asked Professor Jelani Cobb if journalism required new rules or is there now a dynamic challenge. Cobb said both.
Unfortunately, Mark Jacob is late to the game. Independent journalists have been talking about how old style journalism is used by the Right to promote their lies and flawed ideology. I wrote the piece “Today’s journalism is incompatible with today’s Right Wing politics. We need a new paradigm,” a few years ago that ended as follows.
The current form of journalism is incapable of saving America from the likes of Trump and the misinforming institutions funded by the Plutocracy. Think tanks like the Heritage Foundation are tools the Plutocracy uses to maintain their power even as their supported policies decimate all else. They present seemingly legitimate studies and talking points the media is enticed to cover.
So today’s journalism is driven by the sheer volume of material released by the right that seems to necessitate coverage irrespective of value. Secondly, the white papers and data from Right Wing think tanks with their air of plausibility is always available to a hungry media with an increasing need for content.
Worse, however, today’s journalism continues the X said while Y said orthodoxy that no longer works because it is a system the Right gamed.
But who says we must continue the techniques learned in the Schools of Journalism. A dynamic society requires change when realities change. The Plutocracy and the Right have gamed the current form of journalism. As such, it is essential that journalists adopt a new paradigm. No longer can they allow their platforms to be a ward of the Right Wing. Journalists must be on their game. They must know the subject they are covering to ensure the minimization of bloviating misinforming subjects. Most importantly, they must never leave misinformation and lies on the table. It must be refuted immediately, in real time. If the media had practiced that form of journalism, the birther movement, death panels, and other silly lies would never have gotten traction.
It is time for a journalism where truth prevails at all cost. Misinformation must get no media delivered traction.
One hopes the mainstream media changes. But I will not hold my breath.