{"id":43156,"date":"2025-12-11T13:01:15","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T18:01:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/?p=43156"},"modified":"2025-12-11T13:01:22","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T18:01:22","slug":"editorial-calling-out-the-press-or-silencing-it-the-white-houses-troubling-new-tactic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/tartan-news\/2025\/12\/11\/editorial-calling-out-the-press-or-silencing-it-the-white-houses-troubling-new-tactic\/","title":{"rendered":"Editorial: Calling out the press – or silencing it? The White House’s troubling new tactic"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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 \u201cHall of Shame\u201d for the \u201cMedia Offender of the Week,\u201d which the administration claims will call out biased, unfair or dishonest reporting. In this staff\u2019s opinion, it will more likely attempt to crack down on any reporting that the president does not like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump has made no secret of his feelings toward the press<\/a>. Since his first campaign he has called journalists \u201clying, disgusting\u201d and \u201cenemies of the people.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Freedom spelled out with word blocks.<\/strong> PIXABAY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Recently, Trump\u2019s insults have escalated and become more personal, especially toward female reporters. In response<\/a> to a question about Jeffrey Epstein, Trump waved his finger in a reporter\u2019s face and told her, \u201cQuiet, piggy.\u201d He has also repeatedly called female reporters<\/a> \u201cstupid\u201d and \u201cugly,\u201d and told them not to \u201cembarrass our guests\u201d with \u201chorrible, insubordinate\u201d questions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On this point, it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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President Trump Holds a Press Conference on AF1. <\/strong>WHITE HOUSE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In response<\/a> to questions about this treatment, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told a room full of journalists to be grateful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think everyone in this room should appreciate the frankness and the openness that you get from President Trump on a near daily basis,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The White House in Autumn. <\/strong>PEXELS<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

U.S. presidents have, more often than not, had tense relationships with the press. Really, it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even Abraham Lincoln, often lauded as a champion of equal rights, was no friend of the press<\/a> 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Folded Newspapers and a Cup of Coffee. <\/strong>PEXELS<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

So Trump\u2019s attitude is nothing new; what has changed is the technological landscape. With social media, the president\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ)<\/a> said in a statement that they \u201cstrongly condemn\u201d the \u201cunmistakable pattern of hostility\u201d shown toward the press. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEvery attack on a journalist chips away at our democracy,\u201d said Caroline Hendrie, SPJ executive director. \u201cEvery time we push back, we strengthen it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Man Holding Microphone While Talking to Another Man. <\/strong>PEXELS<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The future of the \u201cMedia Offenders\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Clarion Staff<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Checkout more posts by the Clarion:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n