Purging the Effects of Trumpism: Journalism (Recorded Live at the Texas Tribune Festival)
Sep 25, 2023
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Katie Benner, Jacob Weisberg, and Jelani Cobb discuss the challenges faced by journalism in the aftermath of eight years of Trump rule, including changes in business models, the rise of fake news, and the impact of social media noise. They also explore the importance of diversifying journalism by addressing the crisis of trust and the need for more diverse newsrooms to effectively defend democracy in the Trump era.
Journalism needs to retrospectively examine its performance during the Trump era and address challenges of disinformation and democratic health.
Diverse newsrooms with representation from marginalized groups are crucial for trust-building and addressing the concerns of non-elites.
Independent journalism plays a vital role in defending democracy, especially in the face of autocracy and the erosion of democratic systems.
Deep dives
The State of Journalism in the Age of Trump
The podcast episode discusses the state of journalism and its role in the age of Trump. It highlights the pressure faced by the journalism industry even prior to Trump's influence, with changes in business models and the rise of social media. The episode emphasizes the need for a retrospective examination of journalism's performance in the past eight years, especially regarding Trump's influence. It also explores the role of journalism in meeting the challenges of disinformation and restoring the country's democratic health. The episode includes insights from prominent journalists and raises questions about the industry's methodologies and coverage of Trump.
The Challenges and Responsibilities of Journalism
The discussion delves into the challenges and responsibilities of journalism in the face of Trump and the rise of Trumpism. It emphasizes the need for diverse newsrooms and greater representation in journalism, including race, ethnicity, and social and economic class. The participants stress the importance of trust-building, particularly in local news, and the role of journalism in addressing the ignored concerns of non-elites. The episode also examines the complexities of objectivity and the need for a more democratic and inclusive approach in journalism.
The Relationship Between Journalism and Democracy
The episode explores the symbiotic relationship between independent journalism and democracy, emphasizing that journalism cannot be neutral when it comes to defending democracy. It highlights the vital role of journalists as truth-tellers and advocates for democratic values. The discussion acknowledges the correlation between independent journalism and democracy worldwide, citing examples from countries like Russia, Turkey, and India. The participants stress the importance of supporting independent journalism in the face of autocracy and the erosion of democratic systems.
The Evolving Role of Journalists and Coverage of Trump
The episode touches on the evolving role of journalists and their coverage of Trump. It discusses the challenges of covering an authoritarian figure and the need for constantly refining the protocols for covering such figures. The participants emphasize the importance of providing context and going beyond mere quotes to analyze the impact and significance of Trump's statements. They also highlight the need for journalists to address the concerns and realities faced by voters, particularly those that have been overlooked by mainstream institutions.
Journalism's Mission and Responsibilities Going Forward
The discussion concludes by examining journalism's mission and responsibilities in the current political and cultural moment. It raises the question of whether journalism's mission should be altered to actively defend democracy or if the focus should remain on truth-telling in the hope that it serves as an instrument for broader political change. The episode highlights the crucial role of independent journalism in preserving democracy and the challenges faced in a rapidly changing media landscape.
The first of a very special trio of episodes recorded live at the Texas Tribune Festival. Each episode explores the state of an institution of existential value to our democracy after eight years of Trump influence and assesses what needs to be done going forward to return to full health. This episode focuses on the journalism industry, with three of the most prominent and experienced members of the 4th estate: Katie Benner, Jacob Weisberg, and Columbia School of Journalism Dean Jelani Cobb.
