On Nov. 28, the Trump administration took another step in a long line of hostile actions against the press. The White House website now includes a “Hall of Shame” for the “Media Offender of the Week,” which the administration claims will call out biased, unfair or dishonest reporting. In this staff’s opinion, it will more likely attempt to crack down on any reporting that the president does not like.
The page named The Boston Globe, The Independent and CBS News as offenders in its first week, as well as four individual journalists. It also has a tip line that invites Americans to report any piece of news they feel is biased or misleading about the president.
Trump has made no secret of his feelings toward the press. Since his first campaign he has called journalists “lying, disgusting” and “enemies of the people.”
Recently, Trump’s insults have escalated and become more personal, especially toward female reporters. In response to a question about Jeffrey Epstein, Trump waved his finger in a reporter’s face and told her, “Quiet, piggy.” He has also repeatedly called female reporters “stupid” and “ugly,” and told them not to “embarrass our guests” with “horrible, insubordinate” questions.
On this point, it’s important to be clear. Journalists are the watchdogs of the government, not the lapdogs. The field is made up of people who participate in society but set aside their bias to operate outside of the bubble, acting as liaison between the government and the public. This is the most fundamental aspect of a free press.
A major part of the job is to ask difficult questions, push for accurate information and hold leaders accountable. It is not to be polite, pleasant or to coddle people in power, even if those people are used to getting their way.
In response to questions about this treatment, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told a room full of journalists to be grateful.
“I think everyone in this room should appreciate the frankness and the openness that you get from President Trump on a near daily basis,” she said.
U.S. presidents have, more often than not, had tense relationships with the press. Really, it’s one of the longest-running national traditions, dating back to the Founding Fathers. For example, John Adams wanted to make it a federal offense to publicly ridicule the government.
Even Abraham Lincoln, often lauded as a champion of equal rights, was no friend of the press during wartime. His administration jailed editors, confiscated printing presses and actively blocked the distribution of newspapers that were seen to have a chance of weakening Union support.
So Trump’s attitude is nothing new; what has changed is the technological landscape. With social media, the president’s main vehicle of communication, millions of people can be reached in an instant with whatever is on his mind. Incendiary comments, threats and insults can spread like wildfire, further dividing his supporters from dissidents.
The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) said in a statement that they “strongly condemn” the “unmistakable pattern of hostility” shown toward the press.
“Every attack on a journalist chips away at our democracy,” said Caroline Hendrie, SPJ executive director. “Every time we push back, we strengthen it.”
The future of the “Media Offenders” campaign is uncertain. It may prove an empty effort, become a badge of honor among media outlets, or represent a chilling step in an increasingly authoritarian direction. As is often the case, we will see it unfold slowly, and have to decide what voices to heed along the way.
The Clarion Staff
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