As I read the initially dismissive headlines about the attempted assassination on former President Donald Trump and heard the stockpile of misrepresented reports about the true state of President Joe Biden’s health, I became deeply frustrated with the media's abject lack of integrity. And I am not alone.
Late last year, nearly four in 10 Americans told Gallup researchers they completely lacked confidence in the media, the highest number on record. This year alone the news media is forecast to lose another 10,000 jobs. This trend must be reversed. Media outlets that claim to be protectors of democracy and bring light to the “darkness” have jettisoned basic journalistic standards.
The true threat to democracy today is not what–or more specifically who–the media elite say it is. Our fragile republic functions best when citizens are well-informed, but today’s news media is dramatically failing to uphold their historic high calling as “The Fourth Estate,” the watchdog of those in power.
Journalism is “the practice of gathering, assessing, creating, and presenting timely and relevant news and information.” Like many other professions, journalism is guided by standards, ethics and foundational principles. Do you see today’s media upholding values such as “truth, accuracy, fairness, and impartiality?”
News and opinion are nearly imperceptible. Unvetted opinions are continuously mixed in with news and presented unchecked realities.
Newsrooms face immense challenges in today’s culture and economy. The rise of digital media has done to print media what the automobile did to horse-drawn carriages. Newsrooms have a vacuum of veteran talent as many lost their best reporters to retirement or demoralization. While citizen journalism has risen to fill this vacuum and cover issues no longer financially viable for traditional outlets, these new "journalists" are often biased and lack oversight, professionalism, and access to the true newsmakers “in the room.”
As a former conservative radio show host in one America’s most liberal states, I have seen “the media” searching for answers during troubling times and breaking news. I fully understand the daily pressure to produce a high-quality news and talk program and felt the responsibility to inform my audience.
In today’s hyper-partisan society, unashamed bias sells half-truths, misinformation and outright lies for advertising dollars.
Many of the biggest news outlets are owned by the wealthy elite. William F. Buckley Jr., once said, "Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one." I’m uncertain if Buckley was joking, but I’m not laughing at the state of our news media today.
We truly need a free press, one free from bias and partisanship. I’d happily pay that subscription fee, and I believe a growing number of concerned citizens would do the same.
Media bias has contributed to public distrust. People don’t know where to turn for truth on the day’s news.
For example, after the attempted assassination, I saw American citizens commenting on international media coverage, thanking them for their down-the-middle coverage of our domestic news. What a shame that there was not domestic media that could be trusted.
Some outlets initially labeled the shooting an “incident” or said Trump took “a fall” during the Pennsylvania rally. Only bias makes reporters and editors so blind to the truth.
The true threat to democracy is the dangerous state of America’s legacy news media, which continues to daily pull apart the fabric of our national unity and identity.
What can be done about it? What is the tipping point for American audiences to start holding unaccountable media accountable?
I don’t believe it is too late for the American news media to recover and restore integrity.
As a Christian and former pastor, I believe we should pray that truth becomes trendy again. The Bible teaches that there’s freedom in the truth. Good, ethical journalism both shields the populace against bad government actors and pierces their veil of lies.
Citizens need to demand media begin to both more accurately reflect the views of the common man and refuse to reinforce the echo chamber.
I also believe that academia has a role in restoring integrity in journalism, demanding more from communication and journalism students, teaching them how to speak and write clearly and effectively, instead of caving to cancel culture mentality. Christian liberal arts universities excel at this, teaching students core critical thinking skills and debunking “spent ideas.”
As the great reformer, John Calvin, said, "Humility is the beginning of true intelligence."
The recent events surrounding the major news events of the past few weeks have brought a new opportunity for outlets to humble and discipline themselves and return to truly acting as “The Fourth Estate.”
Eric Hogue is the current president of Colorado Christian University, where he previously served as vice president of University Advancement. Hogue has a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Liberty University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from William Jessup University. Hogue is also a former political candidate, practicing theologian and pastor, and a long-tenured radio, television and media professional.