The role of the press
Published November 17, 2016
Editorial by Greensboro News-Record, November 16, 2016.
When Donald Trump takes the oath of office Jan. 20, the Republican Party will gain full control of two branches of the U.S. government, the executive and legislative. As soon as the Senate confirms Trump’s nomination to fill the vacant seat on the Supreme Court, Republicans effectively will have the third. Although the judicial branch is nonpartisan, a Trump-appointed justice will return the court to the 5-4 conservative majority that held sway in many of its cases before Antonin Scalia died.
There is never a greater need for a free and independent press than when one party rules with absolute power.
That has been true in North Carolina, where Republicans have dominated the legislature and the courts for many years and the executive branch since 2013. A critical press plays a watchdog role on those who run the government.
On the federal level, the news media’s job will be challenging. President-elect Trump and the so-called “mainstream media” have a poisonous relationship. Trump’s campaign promises and his personal conduct drew critical coverage. Attacks by his opponents, during the Republican primaries and in the general election campaign, constantly made headlines. Trump responded by calling reporters dishonest, scum, slime, disgusting, and barring some from covering his events.
The media often were frustrated by Trump’s lack of transparency. Despite his promise that he would release his tax returns, he never did. The operations of his business empire are hidden. He has not said whether his business will be managed in a “blind trust” after he takes office.
These things make it necessary for the press to keep digging. The American people should know if their president has financial interests that could benefit from his official actions, or if overseas partnerships might influence relations with other countries. If Trump is hostile toward the press, it might be because his own financial interests are threatened by exposure.
Many Trump supporters are angry at the news media for perceived bias against their candidate. Some might like to see newspapers and TV networks shut down. Trump has said as much himself.
Political leaders always try to control the message. President Barack Obama tries to control the message. Presidents going back at least as far as Franklin Roosevelt have been good at it. Trump, a showman and reality TV personality, might turn out to be the best. Americans will have ready access to Trump’s point of view. As president, he’ll be able to command prime-time television slots and use social media to his advantage.
The public also needs independent news sources to inform them when government doesn’t run well, or if policies reward special interests, or threaten public lands, or sacrifice clean air and water. When government holds real power, the people must empower themselves with access to information.
November 17, 2016 at 11:31 am
Richard L Bunce says:
The press's job has always been to challenge all political officials not matter their numbers or party affiliation... the press has grossly failed at this over the last several decades... they will fail at this again because like you they will only focus on one party affiliation.
"That has been true in North Carolina, where Republicans have dominated the legislature and the courts for many years..."
FOR MANY YEARS! You have got to be kidding! For many years would be the century plus of Democratic Party majorities in NC government.
November 17, 2016 at 8:07 pm
Bruce Stanley says:
Why weren't you a watchdog while Debbie Wasserman Schultz and the DNC were favoring Hillary Clinton during the democractic primary? Why weren't you a watchdog when the successor to Debbie Wasserman Schultz at the DNC, Donna Brazile, also favored Hillary Clinton by providing her questions prior to the democratic primary debate, to which she had access due to her employment with CNN? Why weren't you a watchdog when John Harwood, moderator of the 3rd GOP primary debate, was collaborating with Clinton campaign manager John Podesta? Brazile, of CNN and Harwood, of CNBC and the NY Times, are supposed to be impartial journalists, aren't they? We found out about this corruption within the mainstream media and DNC through Wikileaks, not through the you being a watchdog. Correct?
November 18, 2016 at 9:26 am
Bruce Stanley says:
"A critical press plays a watchdog role on those who run the government." How do you expect the people to except you in this role when you have demonstated over the past 8 years, and particularly over the last year (through Wikileaks), that you are corrupt?
November 20, 2016 at 4:02 pm
Norm Kelly says:
'Trump responded by calling reporters dishonest, scum, slime, disgusting, and barring some from covering his events.' Rightfully SO! On which point was he wrong? Dishonest? He was right. Siding with lib pols most of the time instead of reporting truth qualifies as dishonest; to say the least. Scum & slime - perhaps a little harsh in some people's books, but not to those who retain the ability to think & read. Low-life reporters who showed their personal bias instead of reporting qualifies too many in the 'main stream' media as scum & slime - what would you call those who so openly show their bias instead of doing their jobs? Disgusting? That's a good word for too many in media. When Hildaliar/Killary referred to 'most' of Donald's supporters as 'deplorable', how did media respond? Did you all call her out? Or did too many call this a gaffe? You mostly called it a slip of the tongue. But it wasn't; it was the liar being honest. One of the few times she was capable of doing so.
When the current mostly black occupier barred Fox News from his events, and called them out for being biased, how did you respond to that? Did you call out the occupier? Or did you let it slide because you also believe Fox News is biased and got what they deserve?
You see, too many of us who vote KNOW without doubt that too many in the mainstream media aren't just biased, but display their bias openly as if it didn't matter; as if NOT doing your jobs didn't matter.
And to refer to so many years of Republican control in NC the way you do simply shows you aren't past your bias. And it shows you haven't learned your lesson yet. You still show that you will report from a liberal, biased, Republican hating position. Not much has changed for too many in the media.
But some of us are keeping our eyes and minds on you all. And we have alternative sources of news to keep ourselves educated. Something liberal media allies of the demon party started referring to as 'alt-right'. Whatever that means, but I guess only left-wing zealots truly know what 'alt-right' is.
