Mainstream Media Should Do News, Not Protests

These past months have witnessed significant changes in American journalism. Several well-known news personalities from the past decade, from Lester Holt to Chuck Todd to Joy Reid to Jim Acosta, have left their familiar roles at prominent news organizations. Major newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, and USA Today, chose not to endorse a presidential candidate last fall for the first time in decades. Recently, the Washington Post shook up its opinion page in favor of more coverage of “personal liberties and free markets.” Both the White House press briefing and press pool are rotating in new journalists and start-up media organizations to report on the Trump administration alongside traditional mainstream outlets.

Some of these moves reflect regular churn in the media business. However, there are clues of a potentially positive trend happening in American journalism: namely, the news business acting like a business again. Too often over the past decade, news outlets have seen themselves as crusaders against the Trump administration and for activist government in general. That may now be changing, and not a moment too soon.

These past months have witnessed significant changes in American journalism. Several well-known news personalities from the past decade, from Lester Holt to Chuck Todd to Joy Reid to Jim Acosta, have left their familiar roles at prominent news organizations. Major newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, and USA Today, chose not to endorse a presidential candidate last fall for the first time in decades. Recently, the Washington Post shook up its opinion page in favor of more coverage of “personal liberties and free markets.” Both the White House press briefing and press pool are rotating in new journalists and start-up media organizations to report on the Trump administration alongside traditional mainstream outlets.

Some of these moves reflect regular churn in the media business. However, there are clues of a potentially positive trend happening in American journalism: namely, the news business acting like a business again. Too often over the past decade, news outlets have seen themselves as crusaders against the Trump administration and for activist government in general. That may now be changing, and not a moment too soon.

RR

About the Author

Roger Ream

Roger Ream is the president of The Fund for American Studies (TFAS), a nonprofit educational organization that works with high-school and college students to promote the principles of free-market economics, limited government, and honorable leadership. He is also the host of the Liberty + Leadership podcast.