Media’s Backwards Coverage of Nashville Shooting

When it comes to the press’s many bad habits, there’s one that is often overlooked: its belittling savior complex.

Indeed, for all its efforts to correct the wrongs of the world by way of advocacy, the press still takes an extraordinarily patronizing, Rudyard Kipling-esque “white man’s burden” approach to its coverage of minority and marginalized communities. Corporate media don’t treat these groups as equals, fully capable of speaking for themselves. Rather, they treat them as delicate orchids to be meticulously maintained and coddled for fear of the slightest bruising.

About the Author

Becket Adams

Becket Adams is a columnist for National Review, the Washington Examiner, and The Hill.

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When it comes to the press’s many bad habits, there’s one that is often overlooked: its belittling savior complex.

Indeed, for all its efforts to correct the wrongs of the world by way of advocacy, the press still takes an extraordinarily patronizing, Rudyard Kipling-esque “white man’s burden” approach to its coverage of minority and marginalized communities. Corporate media don’t treat these groups as equals, fully capable of speaking for themselves. Rather, they treat them as delicate orchids to be meticulously maintained and coddled for fear of the slightest bruising.