After Trump’s victory, there was an urgent push by the media for a ‘fact checking’ infrastructure that would censor conservatives. And prevent someone like Trump from winning again. Fact checking was supposed to be a means of creating trustworthy platforms.
How big of an issue is “trustworthy” content for the president of the Poynter Institute, which runs the International Fact Checking Network?
Here he is on the media’s trust problem after the Mueller report blew apart its Russia hoax.
Q. We’ve heard a lot about this being a reckoning for the media. Do you agree — and how do you feel about that word: “reckoning?”
A. My first reaction was “reckoning, schmeckoning.” I think the word has become trite and it’s sort of faux lofty to suggest this week’s developments — albeit important ones — should trigger some big internal affairs investigation of the press. Plus overuse of the word reckoning devalues the meaningful societal reflection and action required on issues like #metoo.
With all due respect, the suggestion is really just code for: “You owe somebody an apology.” In the case coverage of potential Russian meddling in the 2016 election and the investigation into whether President Trump and his associates colluded or obstructed investigators, a meaningful assessment is premature. The Mueller report is not actually even out yet.
Read the full story from Front Page Mag
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