There is so much going on it’s a bit overwhelming.
But I was perusing my Facebook this weekend and came across this video:
I found it quite interesting and significantly insightful.
Now before I go forward, I’ll disclose that I worked at abc12 in Flint, MI for 4 years during my undergrad days as a floor director and studio cameraman. So I do hold a bias in some ways that favors news reporters, however, here are my thoughts on all of this.
The Press
I do believe, regardless any bias on my part, that the news does need to be fair and that it is their responsibility they bear with freedom of the press. It is not their job to be friends with who they report on nor should it support or help any agenda regardless liberal or conservative leaning. News is suppose to put out the information the most honest, fair and best way they can and let the public decide. (However I do acknowledge that every outlet does lean one way or the other simply because they are human).
Meryl Streep put it beautifully in her Golden Globe speech a few weeks ago:
This brings me to the press. We need the principled press to hold power to account, to call them on the carpet for every outrage.That’s why our founders enshrined the press and its freedoms in our constitution.
~Meryl Streep, Golden Globes 2017
I was also extremely disappointed to hear Trump Advisor, Kellyanne Conway, suggest that the reporters should be fired. The news needs to be independent of the President. It is absolutely inappropriate for a President’s Team to call for the removal of reporters/anchors and for the Team to call out and demand the names of sources.
Topics
The other point in this whole exchange between Cooper and Conway was the complaint of the story topics that were being covered by the press.
I think Trump has earned these pre-inauguration stories about him; just like Obama earned his pre-inauguration stories about him 4 and 8 years ago. The reason why the stories are so different is not because news outlet are biased against Trump or for Obama but rather the rhetoric, responsibility, respect and accountability each once President-Elect has used and approached the Presidency with.
First, let me share a line from this exchange that really got me thinking on this post was said at about 24:30. “With freedom comes great responsibility.”
However, let me use the original version of the phrase quoted above: “With great power there must also come great responsibility”
Of course Trump’s news is not about the dresses and the parties and the celebrations. In my opinion he has not acted with a sense responsibility that comes with the Power of the Presidency. The actions and inactions and words of President-Elect Trump and his Team have taken precedence (and rightly so) over the frivolity of the Inauguration Celebrations because of this lack of responsibility and the stories have reflected justifiably so.
Finally, a small side thought, way to rip and alter a phrase from Spider-Man who I feel embodies the struggle that a President must endure and hopefully conquer in terms of the inner battle of what it means in undertaking the power and responsibility of something greater than one’s self.
Just a few thoughts from over the weekend.
Until next time,
Peace, Love and Pandas!
Hello World, Its Me, Brian 