Read on Twitter
A quick thought about the “fake news” mantra over the last several years.
I’ve had Trump supporters tell me he never meant local news when he would disparage national media and journalists with this term.
This was a trickle down insult that that’s affected EVERY reporter. 1/
I’ve had Trump supporters tell me he never meant local news when he would disparage national media and journalists with this term.
This was a trickle down insult that that’s affected EVERY reporter. 1/
Local politicians and sycophants use it against local media now, even for non political stories.
Our viewer emails and online comments have been polluted with this term.
It’s become a tool for anyone to disparage any journalist anywhere.
2/
Our viewer emails and online comments have been polluted with this term.
It’s become a tool for anyone to disparage any journalist anywhere.
2/
When I covered local neo-Nazis, Proud Boys and other wicked clubs, boy did members love using that term. They still do.
It’s become a platitude.
BUT....the overall dismissal of journalism that is critical of people in power has become acceptable by a large swath of society. 3/
It’s become a platitude.
BUT....the overall dismissal of journalism that is critical of people in power has become acceptable by a large swath of society. 3/
Overall, this behavior against journalists has become a refuge for people who don’t like the facts of a particular story.
It’s now easy to dismiss critical journalism because the most powerful man in the world constantly claimed reports he didn’t like were “fake news.” 4/
It’s now easy to dismiss critical journalism because the most powerful man in the world constantly claimed reports he didn’t like were “fake news.” 4/
I’m sure this behavior will continue among the political mosquitos in our communities, but remember this:
Many of the reporters in your town who’ve managed to stick with this job amid the insults and threats are still here.
And they do it because they care about the truth. 5/
Many of the reporters in your town who’ve managed to stick with this job amid the insults and threats are still here.
And they do it because they care about the truth. 5/
(Thanks for supporting your local news.) 6/6
