The country's most impactful journalism is occurring outside of corp media where journalists are doing their jobs without direct access. Access to deranged, sociopathic, mendacious politicians is highly over rated and can be harmful when granted to a guileless or worse, collaborative, press.
Most of the Mainstream Media has coward in the corner as Trumphuk’s minions hand them useless garbage. What we need is real reporting on the effects of the Trumphuk—Muskalini eviscerating of our democracy. That ain’t going to come from sitting in a WH presser.
You made excellent points including that Trump’s exclusion of the AP might be a positive thing. It needs a reminder that the press is a democracy pillar that’s desperately needed.
I expected the end of democracy back in 1995 when I was teaching and discovered that fascists ran my school. I knew it was only a question of time before they’d take over this country yet I could not get one reporter to look into this. I live in Chicagoland too and finally got a Tribune reporter to listen to me. Because of her 2001 call to the IL State Board of Education, I finally got my hearing decision. They had been unlawfully making up reasons not to render it for over a year at that point, likely because it contained documents unlawfully altered by my superintendent and the state - sound a bit fascist? That reporter frightened them into complying yet did nothing about their fascist way of breaking the law.
As you pointed out, she probably thought she’d be denied access if she caused trouble with a power that has agreed upon status. The line between reporters keeping a democracy honest and staying in business has always been perfect for democracy predators.
Without the help from the press, I set out to expose this by organizing other teachers with similar discoveries. I wrote my first book about it in 2008, hoping I could save democracy. I posted whistleblowing at EndTeacherAbuse.org and WhiteChalkCrime.com. I knew that no country with schools like this could remain a democracy nor can it ever save itself from a Trump and our press was not going to help.
For thirty years, I prayed that others were ready to hear these truths without the press’ help. Until they listen to teachers who’ll speak out - only a few as in any fascist takeover - democracy has little hope.
Meanwhile I still have those illegal documents plus receipts of their fascist acts ready to expose our education system and turn it honest. I published one illegal document - I have it thanks to that reporter - in my 2024 book.
The press could have saved democracy in 2001. Now it will be harder. However, when the truth - first they came for the teachers - becomes known, it will regain the support for democracy that this nation lost partially due to the press not doing its job.
A good way for journalists to show how important an independent press is would be for them to stop attending White House briefings, and instead devote their time to Democratic and other opposition figures. Starve Trump, and any other criminals, of the oxygen of publicity. The reporting would be more factual than WH briefings, in any case.
my thought as I started reading this was "why does anyone WANT access to a steady stream of lies?" And that's what you are basically asking. What exactly is so important about having a "scoop" about some announcement from the president: we will hear about it soon enough from the toadies who gather round the aquarium (great image by the way). Have the MSM thought about announcing that THEY are denying TRUMP access to their reporting? Walking out, and announcing that they will pay no attention to him so long as he is telling nonstop lies, and documenting why what the toadies are reporting ARE lies.
The WTFHouse has said that it doesn't have to give access. AP has pointed out that it is the REASON given is where the First Amendment comes in. I hope it wins, and then says "no point in appealing this, trumpy. We are never coming back, so this case just became moot."
Imo US political media has neither the collective smarts, training, or guts to overcome its addiction. And addiction is exactly what it is.
I'm in the Chicago area too, and I used ABC for local news for years. They lost me in Dec. over the George Steph. flap. I moved to WGN rather than trade one craven source for another.
Eye opening and disturbing. Legacy and broadcast journalism need to meet the circumstances with less delicacy and less fidelity to the concerns of corporate media. It's shameful, for example, that no one pushed the question of AP's denial of access in the briefing. Thank goodness for independent journalism.
Access journalism, as you point out so eloquently on the basis of deep personal experience, is just another form of cronyism. The Washington Correspondents' Dinner, which no self-respecting journalist should attend, is the apotheosis of this.
Frankly, members of the press should refuse to fly on Air Force One in order to maintain their independence and retain a proper sense of perspective.
Excellent review. How many legitimate news organizations remain? Aren’t most of them parrots, head nodders, and mic holders? Tough questions are few, and gen ignored with little to no follow up.
It’s to the poinst where media is paying trump for access or to avoid his wrath. It’s embarrassing. Almost as embarrassing as the drug addled, freak bot, musk at CPAC.
If there were more journalists such as you, there may be some pushback to the trump regime. But with too many suckups, it’s not an easy go for the public to get realit instead of state spronsored news. Ask Russians how it works…
Not in the least. Trump's opposition to censorship is well-established. He even signed an executive order demanding free speech. When's the last time you saw that?
The country's most impactful journalism is occurring outside of corp media where journalists are doing their jobs without direct access. Access to deranged, sociopathic, mendacious politicians is highly over rated and can be harmful when granted to a guileless or worse, collaborative, press.
Most of the Mainstream Media has coward in the corner as Trumphuk’s minions hand them useless garbage. What we need is real reporting on the effects of the Trumphuk—Muskalini eviscerating of our democracy. That ain’t going to come from sitting in a WH presser.
You made excellent points including that Trump’s exclusion of the AP might be a positive thing. It needs a reminder that the press is a democracy pillar that’s desperately needed.
I expected the end of democracy back in 1995 when I was teaching and discovered that fascists ran my school. I knew it was only a question of time before they’d take over this country yet I could not get one reporter to look into this. I live in Chicagoland too and finally got a Tribune reporter to listen to me. Because of her 2001 call to the IL State Board of Education, I finally got my hearing decision. They had been unlawfully making up reasons not to render it for over a year at that point, likely because it contained documents unlawfully altered by my superintendent and the state - sound a bit fascist? That reporter frightened them into complying yet did nothing about their fascist way of breaking the law.
As you pointed out, she probably thought she’d be denied access if she caused trouble with a power that has agreed upon status. The line between reporters keeping a democracy honest and staying in business has always been perfect for democracy predators.
Without the help from the press, I set out to expose this by organizing other teachers with similar discoveries. I wrote my first book about it in 2008, hoping I could save democracy. I posted whistleblowing at EndTeacherAbuse.org and WhiteChalkCrime.com. I knew that no country with schools like this could remain a democracy nor can it ever save itself from a Trump and our press was not going to help.
For thirty years, I prayed that others were ready to hear these truths without the press’ help. Until they listen to teachers who’ll speak out - only a few as in any fascist takeover - democracy has little hope.
Meanwhile I still have those illegal documents plus receipts of their fascist acts ready to expose our education system and turn it honest. I published one illegal document - I have it thanks to that reporter - in my 2024 book.
The press could have saved democracy in 2001. Now it will be harder. However, when the truth - first they came for the teachers - becomes known, it will regain the support for democracy that this nation lost partially due to the press not doing its job.
A good way for journalists to show how important an independent press is would be for them to stop attending White House briefings, and instead devote their time to Democratic and other opposition figures. Starve Trump, and any other criminals, of the oxygen of publicity. The reporting would be more factual than WH briefings, in any case.
my thought as I started reading this was "why does anyone WANT access to a steady stream of lies?" And that's what you are basically asking. What exactly is so important about having a "scoop" about some announcement from the president: we will hear about it soon enough from the toadies who gather round the aquarium (great image by the way). Have the MSM thought about announcing that THEY are denying TRUMP access to their reporting? Walking out, and announcing that they will pay no attention to him so long as he is telling nonstop lies, and documenting why what the toadies are reporting ARE lies.
The WTFHouse has said that it doesn't have to give access. AP has pointed out that it is the REASON given is where the First Amendment comes in. I hope it wins, and then says "no point in appealing this, trumpy. We are never coming back, so this case just became moot."
Imo US political media has neither the collective smarts, training, or guts to overcome its addiction. And addiction is exactly what it is.
I'm in the Chicago area too, and I used ABC for local news for years. They lost me in Dec. over the George Steph. flap. I moved to WGN rather than trade one craven source for another.
Eye opening and disturbing. Legacy and broadcast journalism need to meet the circumstances with less delicacy and less fidelity to the concerns of corporate media. It's shameful, for example, that no one pushed the question of AP's denial of access in the briefing. Thank goodness for independent journalism.
Access journalism, as you point out so eloquently on the basis of deep personal experience, is just another form of cronyism. The Washington Correspondents' Dinner, which no self-respecting journalist should attend, is the apotheosis of this.
Frankly, members of the press should refuse to fly on Air Force One in order to maintain their independence and retain a proper sense of perspective.
I've been railing against the correspondents dinner for decades. I could have attended if I'd wanted to. I didn't.
Excellent review. How many legitimate news organizations remain? Aren’t most of them parrots, head nodders, and mic holders? Tough questions are few, and gen ignored with little to no follow up.
It’s to the poinst where media is paying trump for access or to avoid his wrath. It’s embarrassing. Almost as embarrassing as the drug addled, freak bot, musk at CPAC.
If there were more journalists such as you, there may be some pushback to the trump regime. But with too many suckups, it’s not an easy go for the public to get realit instead of state spronsored news. Ask Russians how it works…
No.
M.A.G.A. = Maggots Are Guillotining America. It’s time for the tables to be turned.
This is censorship. For an administration so vocal about the issue, this is disappointing.
Disappointing? It's the way they've always acted.
Not in the least. Trump's opposition to censorship is well-established. He even signed an executive order demanding free speech. When's the last time you saw that?