The Gray Area with Sean Illing Marty Baron on the future of news
Aug 9, 2021
Marty Baron, the former Executive Editor of the Washington Post, reflects on the state of journalism today. With a career that includes overseeing pivotal investigations, he discusses the erosion of trust in media and the challenges posed by misinformation, particularly during the Trump era. Baron emphasizes the crucial role of accountability and journalistic integrity in a society flooded with sensationalism. He also explores how legacy media can adapt amidst changing consumption habits while still promoting truth and integrity.
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Democracy's Resilience
- Marty Baron acknowledges concerns about American democracy's fragility.
- He emphasizes its resilience, citing the Civil War and other crises as evidence.
Covering Trump
- Marty Baron discusses The Washington Post's coverage of the Trump administration, emphasizing their commitment to truth.
- He clarifies that the Post's role is not to be the opposition, but to report facts truthfully and honorably.
Adversarial Role?
- Sean Illing suggests the press was forced into an adversarial role with the Trump administration due to Trump's reliance on lies.
- Baron maintains that the press's job is to report facts, regardless of the administration.