Last weekend, The Boston Globe proposed a coordinated editorial response from publications across the U.S. against Trump’s frequent media attacks. Today, more than 300 news outlets joined in the campaign to counter President Donald Trump’s attacks and promote a free press.
Editorial boards were urged to take a common stand against Trump’s words regardless of their politics.
What the papers said:
According to the BBC:
Starting with the Boston Globe itself, the editorial there, headlined Journalists Are Not The Enemy, argued that a free press had been a core American principle for more than 200 years
The New York Times chose the headline A Free Press Needs You, calling Mr Trump’s attacks “dangerous to the lifeblood of democracy”. It published excerpts from dozens more publications beneath
The New York Post – a pro-Trump tabloid – answered the Globe’s call by saying “Who are we to disagree?” adding: “It may be frustrating to argue that just because we print inconvenient truths doesn’t mean that we’re fake news, but being a journalist isn’t a popularity contest. All we can do is to keep reporting.” But it also said: “Will this make a difference? Not one whit”
The Philadelphia Inquirer said its city was the birthplace of US democracy, writing: “If the press is not free from reprisal, punishment or suspicion for unpopular views or information, neither is the country. Neither are its people”
Opinion writers at McClatchy put out an editorial for the 30 daily newspapers it runs, including the Miami Herald, saying they hardly ever spoke with one voice but were doing so now. It said “enemies of the people” was “what Nazis called Jews. It’s how Joseph Stalin’s critics were marked for execution”
Will the editorials make a difference? Likely not… Despite the coordinated attempt at Trump-shaming, he will not feel shame. Is he even capable of that emotion?
But despite this, we can feel happy as a nation about this organized unification the media to protect the rights of its’ citizens to report the truth. And these news outlets have demonstrated clearly that attacks on our First Amendment rights are unacceptable.
Very proud of journalists and the people who support them today!
You can follow me on Twitter @Mayme Barth
Does anyone know who ultimately owns/controls ALL the media outlets? Look it up.