The Strange Death of Journalism with Batya Ungar-Sargon
Mar 25, 2023
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Batya Ungar-Sargon, deputy opinion news editor at Newsweek, discusses the shift from working-class journalism to elitist media, the influence of wokeness, gender ideology, and the consequences of tribalism and individualism. The podcast also explores the craving for divisiveness in publishing, misconceptions of calmness, racial belonging and pride, media bias and woke orthodoxy, use of puberty blockers, misrepresentation of bills and niche content, economic impact of mass immigration on black Americans, and the challenges of expressing unpopular opinions.
The transformation of journalism from a working-class profession to an elitist one has resulted in biased reporting and content.
The shift towards catering to a niche, educated audience has allowed journalists to promote woke ideologies without facing repercussions.
There is a growing skepticism towards sensationalism and misrepresentation in media coverage of trans issues, leading to more critical and balanced reporting.
The rise of wokeness in media is driven by class stratification, as outlets prioritize the preferences and sensitivities of the affluent, well-educated audience.
Deep dives
The evolution of journalism from a working class profession to an elite profession
Journalism has undergone a significant transformation, shifting from a working class profession to an elite profession. In the past, journalists were often more liberal and connected with working class Americans. However, the rise of globalization and the demand for higher education in journalism resulted in a shift towards an elitist perspective. The industry began to focus on catering to a niche audience, which included affluent, educated individuals. This shift has had implications on the content and reporting biases in media outlets.
The influence of digital news on media bias
With the advent of digital news, media outlets have shifted their focus towards catering to a specific audience, rather than aiming for a broad readership. This has allowed journalists to follow their own liberal inclinations without facing repercussions from mass publication outlets. The desire to capture a particular niche audience, consisting of educated elites, has led to an increase in biased reporting and the promotion of woke ideologies. The transition from print news to digital news has played a role in perpetuating media bias.
The distinction between racial issues and trans issues in media coverage
There is a notable difference in the skepticism towards media coverage of racial issues compared to coverage of trans issues. Media outlets, such as The New York Times, have faced pushback and criticism for the way they cover racial issues, as they often fail to accurately represent the views and experiences of black Americans. However, there is a growing awareness and resistance to the sensationalism and misrepresentation surrounding trans issues. The transgender agenda pushed by a small fraction of elites is being met with skepticism and criticism from many individuals, including gay individuals who argue that it erases the existence of homosexuality. The limits and potential harms of medical interventions on transgender youth, such as puberty blockers, are being increasingly questioned, leading to a more balanced and critical coverage on these topics.
The impact of class stratification on media bias
The rise of wokeness in media outlets is driven by class stratification rather than pure politics or race. The shift towards catering to an affluent, well-educated audience has led to the promotion of woke ideologies within the media landscape. This ideological bias has resulted in the misrepresentation of perspectives, as media outlets prioritize the preferences and sensitivities of this particular niche audience. The growing class divide within society has fueled the propagation of wokeness, as the benefits and advantages associated with it mainly accrue to the upper-middle class.
Differentiating the New York Times reader
The podcast episode discusses the New York Times and its clientele, suggesting that the newspaper caters to an upper-class, college-educated audience. The host points out the paradoxical combination of high-end luxury advertisements alongside articles about racial activism. The analysis argues that the preferences and beliefs of the New York Times reader, often an elite member of society, align with both rich people content and a quasi-fetish for being confronted by black activists. This analysis frames the New York Times as a representation of the educated elite class and suggests that their use of woke language is a way to reinforce their moral authority and control.
The Populist Perspective
The conversation delves into the concept of a pure meritocracy and the belief that the talented and intelligent should be the ruling class. The guest expresses his disagreement with this idea, advocating for a more equal society with less disparity between the elites and the rest of the population. The guest argues against the notion that the smart should dictate beliefs and opinions, asserting that people have the right to be wrong, even if it includes rejecting scientific consensus like taking a vaccine. The emphasis is placed on the importance of democratic institutions and limited government intervention, challenging the idea of a ruling class.
Understanding the Working Class
The conversation highlights the difference between class politics and race politics, exploring the appeal of right-wing voters to cultural issues rather than economic interests. The guest advocates for a conservative working class party that addresses the needs and aspirations of working-class Americans. The importance of collective bargaining and the limitations of unions are discussed. Furthermore, the disparities between different ethnic groups within races and the significance of upward mobility, marriage, and human capital in social and economic outcomes are emphasized. The podcast analyzes the motivations and outlooks of both the ruling class and working-class Americans.
My guest today is Batya Ungar-Sargon. Batya is a deputy opinion news editor at Newsweek and a columnist at Compact magazine. Before that, she was the opinion editor of The Forward.
In this episode, we talk about tribalism and individualism. We talk about how journalism and media became woke. We talk about the shift from journalism being a working-class profession to a profession for elites and the consequences of that shift. We also talk about gender ideology and at the end, Batya turns the tables on me and asks me several interesting and probing questions about myself and about my audience.
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