41 Comments
User's avatar
Steward Beckham's avatar

Unfortunately, real journalism only occurs in columns like this and other independent writers and investigators. Corporate media is not informing a nation that is progressively losing its competitive edge through plutocratic policies and disinformation campaigns that inflame prejudice and fear. Great column from an amazing analyst!

Expand full comment
Jonathan Reiss's avatar

While we agree that the bad practices called out here are all too common, we do want to note that there are good journalists and organizations. To highlight that, we have created a counterpart to this "What Journalism Is ..." calling for and noting good reporting.

We hope people will check it out, and contribute your own observations and recommendations.

https://mediaanddemocracyproject.substack.com/p/what-journalism-is

Expand full comment
EcstaticRationalist's avatar

I abhor conspiracy theories, but I am becoming more and more convinced that mainstream media coverage is being driven by concerns that a Democratic win will result in major election finance reform, drying up a major source of revenue for media outlets.

Expand full comment
Susanna J. Sturgis's avatar

This is all too plausible, especially if "being driven by" is comparable to a herd of horses being driven by the howling of wolves: it's an instinctive reaction and nothing is being thought through rationally.

Expand full comment
Pat O'Donnell's avatar

I would love to see some reform, the media can and will find new revenue streams should that happen.

Expand full comment
Greg Billings's avatar

Both Manu Raju (CNN) and Dasha Burns (NBC) were nodding during their Trump interviews at points where he was lying directly to their faces.

Expand full comment
Mark Mansour's avatar

Dana in particular is good at nodding stupidly.

Expand full comment
Cicada's avatar

Like “drinking bird” toys, they just can’t help themselves.

Expand full comment
Homi Hormasji's avatar

Journalism isn't asking a politician a question and then simply moving on to the next question when the answer the politician provides is either evasive or an outright lie.

Expand full comment
YpsiGal's avatar

Wow. I wish this was mandatory reading for every journalist out there right now..

Expand full comment
Robert Fobes's avatar

Personally, I’m very biased… I’m on the side of telling the truth, thinking intelligently, and not profiting from empowering ignorance, meanness and the very worst that we can possibly be as human beings.

Expand full comment
Nanny Ann's avatar

I posted this on FB My Story... If one person says it's raining and the other says the sun is shining, it's not the media's job to quote them both! It IS their job to look out the window and report the TRUTH!

Expand full comment
Cynthia Verdell's avatar

The news is written now days, not reported. It is propaganda from corporate media..

Expand full comment
Pat O'Donnell's avatar

If I may add, Journalism isn't a product simply to produce revenue at all costs. Journalism isn't a one-story that fits all size markets. Journalism isn't the use of handout video packages or articles. Journalism isn't the reliance on stock photos/videos.

Expand full comment
Tom Perhai's avatar

I still feel the impact from the lost art of solid local and regional news that isn’t cookie cutter. In college I meant to work in broadcast journalism but the Fairness Doctrine ended the year I graduated (1987). News reporting was already in a monetizing trend since the early 1980s. I didn’t want to play corporate media games. My problem is that I knew too much about communication psychology by then and felt I couldn’t sell my soul to such a market. I’m still that way.

Expand full comment
Pat Kinney's avatar

Great column. I think about this a lot when I hear debates about the candidates' positions on the issues and all the back and forth about who-said-what-when 20 or 30 years ago when nobody mentions we have an insurrectionist and a traitor running for president. It's like a domestic assault in the family no one wants to talk about and lives life as though it didn't happen.

As Sen. Barry Goldwater once said on a CBS News "Face the Nation" broadcast 40 years ago, "I believe in telling it like it is, If it looks like a duck, sounds like a duck and flies like a duck, by God, that's a DUCK!"

Expand full comment
John A. Bolt's avatar

This is almost 100 percent right, but I do caution about one thing (and it's just a caution). "Journalism isn’t describing plain old racism as something that’s 'racially charged' or 'racially tinged.'" There is so much those of us in the dominant class don't really understand or know and, even though we're trying, sometimes have to be educated and/or made aware that our words or actions are viewed differently by those not in the dominate class. (I can give plenty of examples.) To outright call someone who makes such a mistake a "racist" seems quick to judge. Just something to keep in mind and to urge understanding the context.

Also, about reporting polls as if they are votes, 100 percent agree, and more (read the AP Stylebook's instructions/cautions on reporting polls). But you would be surprised -- or maybe not -- how many times it doesn't matter what you report as one thing is misinterpreted as another. For example, during my time with The Associated Press, including as a bureau chief, every election we would create a database of vote tables to be sent out on election night reporting returns. To make sure everything was working properly, we'd do several tests in the weeks ahead, and that included entering vote tallies to ensure that all was well. In never failed that no matter how many times we sent out advisories that "this is a test," and marked the transmissions as "tests," we would get a call, mostly from media but sometimes even from angry campaigns, complaining that we were already calling an election, or telling someone that so-and-so will win. I guess we can put that in the category of best laid plans, yada, yada, yada...

Expand full comment
Susanna J. Sturgis's avatar

Good point about "racist." Some people out there are convinced that racism by definition involves wearing a swastika or Klan robes. And other people sometimes use "racist" to shame people or shut them up. The same goes for "sexist," "heterosexist," "classist," "ableist," etc., but in most situations these don't have the power of "racist."

Expand full comment
Susan Linehan's avatar

I would say there is a big difference between calling a comment racist and calling a PERSON racist. Call the comment racist and ask the person who made it if he misspoke and if so how. Same goes for misogyny. You KNOW trump or jd will double down on it, and you are safe in concluding that the comment was racist/misogynist.

Expand full comment
Sue Russell's avatar

Re. "This is a test" transmissions. Sadly, John, most people no longer read. It's tough. We're all bombarded. 200--300 stories/releases/studies/newsletters, etc., I'm guessing. But I love Mark's wonderfully clear list & plan to lob it to others as needed. (Thanks, Mark.)

Expand full comment
John Adams Ingram's avatar

America’s Corporate journalists and journalism give lie to “Freedom of The Press”. To them that right simply means spreading corporate lies about corporate world.

The people of Finland figured out how to muzzle (regulate) their corporations. Check out why they are the “happiest people in the world”.

Expand full comment
Robert Fobes's avatar

Personally, I’m very biased… I’m on the side of telling the truth, thinking intelligently, and not profiting from empowering ignorance meanness, and the very worst that we can possibly be as human beings.

Expand full comment
Susanna J. Sturgis's avatar

So here's an idea: How about slipping these surreptitiously into little 1x1 ads in print media and into the chyrons of cable newscasts? Or into the menus of restaurants frequented by journalists?

Expand full comment
Sue Russell's avatar

Yes. And how could we get them into the hands of the brainwashed. I just heard "person on the street" say she had no reason to doubt DJT, sure he'd never lie. I'd love to follow up with a request. On what are you basing that? And a copy of Mark's article. And a link to WaPo's Pinnocchio 30k+ database of lies and misleads. Surely *someone* would be interested?

Expand full comment
Ann Marie Worhatch's avatar

Great article Mark! I would add: Opinions are not facts and the journalist should always lead with “in my opinion…” to make that distinction.

Expand full comment
Roger Hubregtse's avatar

These points and understanding them are crucial to having a vibrant and informed democracy. Thanks for distilling this awareness. Carry on.

Expand full comment