The Fourth Estate is a term that frames the news media both in its’ clear power of advocacy and tacit ability to illuminate political issues. Though not formally established as a part of the political system, it can exert considerable influence upon society. The First Amendment rights afforded the press is indeed, a sacred privilege, imbedded into our Constitution as a check and balance that empowers the press and provides a process to assure that political leaders are held accountable to the people. The framers of our Constitution did not intend that the press become an arbiter for any particular political party. All were to be held to account regardless of their political affiliation. Unfortunately, the mainstream media has devolved to consider their advocacy as all important as they fill the airwaves with opinionated news analysis replete with their political biases.
Proper journalism should always endeavor to seek the truth, act in the public interest and minimize harm. Journalists have an obligation to seek out that truth and report it as accurately as possible. Journalists should also corroborate any information with multiple sources. Journalists should avoid taking political sides and should not act on behalf of any special interest groups. Any political affiliations or other conflicts of interest should be declared and properly acknowledged. Objectivity is paramount and the reporter should remain fair and balanced, making certain to uphold and protect the public interest. In addition to being independent, journalists should show impartiality and balance in their reporting. Unfortunately, today’s mainstream media does nothing of the sort. They misrepresent their role and simply become a cheerleading team, championing the goals of the left, all the while abandoning their responsibility to themselves and the public.
The Fox News moniker proudly proclaims its’ “fair and balanced” news coverage, but the majority of their news casts are partisan and conservative. But, Fox News is greatly outnumbered by the vast mainstream media outlets that continually lean far to the left. ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, MSNBC the Washington Post and the New York Times continually promote their goal to overturn President Trump’s election by any means necessary and to ultimately defeat conservativism, apparently at any and all costs. They openly support socialism and decry capitalism, religion, free speech, gun rights and the Constitution in general. They twist their reporting to promote a narrative that often ranges far from the truth. In their ivory towers, particularly on the east and west coasts, they obviously do not understand mainstream America. There is good reason that newspapers are dying and that the mainstream media is not trusted. Mainstream media reporting has simply transformed into editorials tainted with opinion, often disregarding the actual facts of the matter.
An article in the Washington Free Beacon illustrates just how out of touch the mainstream media is. “New York Times executive editor Dean Baquet said it's "odd" to be called a member of the elite, but he acknowledged journalists must do more to understand religion. We have to do a much better job … understanding some of the forces that drive people in parts of America that maybe are not as powerful as New York or Los Angeles," Baquet said on NBC's Meet the Press. "We have to do a better job covering religion. We have to do a better job understanding why some people support Donald Trump." This “matter of fact” statement demonstrates just how “siloed” the media has become. They truly do not understand how this nation was founded and continues to function as a democratic republic. They have lost the ability to understand what their role in maintaining an orderly society truly is. They do not understand how harmful to our nation their failure to uphold the public trust by failing to report positive results from President Trump’s administration all the while echoing the negativity and false statements by politicians on the left, asserting those statements as valid and truthful.
As the mainstream media, academia, and the “Deep State” work in concert to undermine our democracy, we have a choice to make. Do we decide that our nation is worthwhile to protect and save, or will we simply remain unengaged and let the chips fall where they may? I, for one, believe in this nation as it was founded and will work my hardest to secure a bright future for our nation and our children. I, for one, will support all candidates that believe as I do with my vote and my donations. I, for one, will do whatever I can to properly inform as many as possible of the dangers to our way of life that the left brings. If we stand by idly and do nothing the left will fundamentally transform this nation and destroy our way of life. The choice is apparent. Are you willing to do your part to save our nation?
As a recovering liberal, you ought to at least be aware that those of us who identify as Democrats also love our country and strive to keep America great. You will likely recall that, as a Democrat, you did not want to "destroy America", as you so frequently now accuse us of trying to do. As a former Democrat, I would think you would at least be able to see both parties as wanting some of the same things, such as freedom and justice for all. Or have you wilfully forgotten?
ReplyDeleteChad you fail to see the differentiation of the left and democrats. My democrat party was the party of JFK, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what can you do for your country." The leadership of the democrat party leans increasingly leftward as the see an opportunity to use those that support left leaning ideology. I still believe most democrats, if the media would actually report facts, would reject the leftward lean of their party. Acquiescing to the radical left, promoting racial disparity and hatred of Donald Trump, is what the leaders of the democrat party believe can be used to regain power. The opposition party is supposed to be the "loyal opposition", loyal to the people they represent. They are falling farther and farther from that ideal when obstruction of policies that benefit their constituents, but harm the President is more important to them. That is more than problematic, it actually does more to create division and that has been the impetus for many of the unlawful actions by people who are simply following a false narrative. It' not D vs. R. I think we all have the same goals in mind, just different paths to achieve those goals. If the left gains control, they will ultimately destroy this nation, just as they have in other nations, because obtaining and maintaining power is their goal. We the people are merely pawns to them to be used for their own gain.
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