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Why Doesn’t the Media Take a Stand Against Trump’s Influence?
The media’s response to Trump remains surprisingly lackluster. Why does the Fourth Estate continue to falter in holding him to account?
Why Doesn’t the Media Take a Stand Against Trump’s Influence?
Since Donald Trump first made his dramatic entry into the political arena, the media has been caught in a whirlwind of his making — and it hasn’t emerged stronger for it. Trump’s presidency showcased a unique mastery of media manipulation, exploiting weaknesses in journalistic practices and pushing norms that might have been career-ending for anyone else. Yet, as we approach the end of 2024, the media’s response to Trump remains surprisingly lackluster.
Why does the Fourth Estate continue to falter in holding him to account?
The Obsession with False Equivalence
A glaring flaw is the media’s compulsion to give equal weight to “both sides” of an issue, even when one side is blatantly false. Trump’s ongoing claims about a “stolen” 2020 election are a case in point. Instead of unequivocally debunking these lies, many outlets opted for cautious phrasing like “Trump’s unproven allegations” or…
