Trump often attacks the news media with cries of “fake news” and the Boston Globe has decided that enough is enough. According to the AP, the newspaper has reached out to editorial boards nationwide to write and publish editorials on August 16th condemning what they call a “dirty war against the free press.”
The Boston Globe is proposing a coordinated editorial response from publications across the U.S. and so far 70 outlets have committed to the editorials, with the list expected to grow. Large metropolitan dailies, such as the Houston Chronicle, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Miami Herald and Denver Post have committed to support the movement, as well as small weekly papers with circulations as low as 4,000.
Editorial boards have been urged to take a common stand against Trump’s words regardless of their politics. Marjorie Pritchard, a deputy managing editor of the Boston Globe said, “Our words will differ. But at least we can agree that such attacks are alarming.”
Pritchard hopes that the coordinated effort will make an impact on readers. At a recent campaign rally in Pennsylvannia, Trump slammed the media saying, “What ever happened to the free press? What ever happened to honest reporting? They don’t report it. They only make up stories.” He also referred to media as “fake, fake, disgusting news”.
The reality, according to Pritchard, is very different.
Of the impact the editorials may have, she said, “I hope it would educate readers to realize that an attack on the First Amendment is unacceptable. We are a free and independent press, it is one of the most sacred principles enshrined in the Constitution.”
The education required, I believe, is mainly for Trump not necessarily readers of newspapers (since, face it, do Trump supporters actually read?), but I also support any movement that helps promote honesty in public discourse. As someone who is sick and tired of listening to the Shitler’s dictator-like rhetoric, I am also looking forward to reading some coordinated Trump shaming on August 16th!
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