I used to edit Page 1 stories for the Chicago Tribune, including many from Washington. In this thread, I explain why the media (including me) have been unintentionally complicit in the rise of fascism that threatens our democracy. 1/9
— Mark Jacob (@MarkJacob16) September 27, 2021
Mainstream media have long tried to treat Republicans and Democrats equally. Some, like me, thought that was the way to be fair. In fact, it was the way to be lazy and not have to sort out the facts. Just quote a Democrat and quote a Republican and you’re done. 2/9
— Mark Jacob (@MarkJacob16) September 27, 2021
When I edited political stories, I went so far as to count the quotes from Republicans and Democrats, thinking an equal number would make us fairer. I didn’t think I was helping either party. I thought I was helping the readers. I was wrong. 3/9
— Mark Jacob (@MarkJacob16) September 27, 2021
If you look back 3 or 4 decades, you see many corrupt pols in both parties. Scandals like Abscam and Keating 5 were mostly Democratic. But in recent decades it’s obvious the GOP is more unethical and anti-democratic. Which means treating the parties equally helps Republicans. 4/9
— Mark Jacob (@MarkJacob16) September 27, 2021
Hillary Clinton mishandled emails. George W. Bush lied to get us into a war. Both were bad. But one was way worse. The media’s self-assigned job to treat Republicans and Democrats equally has compelled them to pump up coverage of Democratic scandals. It’s fairness-signaling. 5/9
— Mark Jacob (@MarkJacob16) September 27, 2021
The Republicans have overwhelmed the media with corruption. They’ve created scandal fatigue, prompting journalists to do something I call ethics norming. That’s when something that would have been a huge scandal in the recent past is considered normal now. 6/9
— Mark Jacob (@MarkJacob16) September 27, 2021
The Republicans have pulled off quite a trick. If news is defined as something unusual happening, GOP corruption is not news because the party is so widely corrupt. Some media have turned off their outrage impulse and decided that corruption is normal. 7/9
— Mark Jacob (@MarkJacob16) September 27, 2021
What’s needed is new framing. Not party-oriented but democracy-oriented. Truth-oriented. The media shouldn't elevate liars in the interest of “fairness.” Yes, media should be fair – to the readers, to the facts. But not to the 2-party system. To our democracy. 8/9
— Mark Jacob (@MarkJacob16) September 27, 2021
These are good tweets, as far as they go. However, Jacobs is no longer in the newspaper business, so his at-long-last arrival at these fairly obvious light-bulb moments is too little, too late.We are now in the midst of an assault on democracy unlike any our country has ever seen. Any journalist who doesn’t frame their reports in that context is doing a grievous disservice to our country. 9/9
— Mark Jacob (@MarkJacob16) September 27, 2021
Also: "Unintentionally"? Editor, please.
I argued yesterday ( https://t.co/zv3WQuTEAa ) that readers should beware any story framing the GOP debt-limit move as a “partisan game.”
— James Fallows (@JamesFallows) September 29, 2021
Same category: “Impasse.” (WSJ today)
It’s not a disagreement. It’s a nihilistic threat, which can do great harm and should be called out pic.twitter.com/ILXHzZseDV
Possibly a new pinnacle of both-sidesism at WaPo pic.twitter.com/qkhMkcg1LN
— Benjamin Ross (@BenRossTransit) September 22, 2021
CNN: If the US defaults and the impasse drags on, the ensuing recession would wipe out nearly 6 million jobs and lift the nation’s unemployment rate to nearly 9%, according to Moody’s report.
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) September 22, 2021
Reminder that instead of improving it's writing and reporting the NYT is going on an influence peddling campaign to "win over the people" to it's enabling point of view.https://t.co/Q50zmSPyhS pic.twitter.com/IyKGoc3Mna
— Get vaccinated. Against COVID & fascism. web rant (@web_rant) September 27, 2021
Some impressive both-sidesism from @annikasmethurst Right wing is bad for falsely claiming unions are promoting rights. Left wing is bad for correctly pointing out that far right is organizing riots and mainstream right condoning them https://t.co/F7zEGXWT2v
— JohnQuiggin (@JohnQuiggin) September 23, 2021
When journalists realize their both-sidesism has enabled the rise of fascism it feels similar to when antivaxxers have an epiphany on a ventilator
— Amy Dentata 🔜 (@AmyDentata) September 29, 2021
The mainstream media needs to get its sh*t together before they “both-sides” us into authoritarianism. It's not liberal versus conservative anymore. It's democracy versus autocracy. Sane versus insane. Fact and truth versus emotion and conspiracy. Stop normalizing!
— Duty To Warn 🔉 (@duty2warn) September 24, 2021
Millions Of Dollars For The Rulers . . .
A network of right-wing healthcare providers, lead by @drsimonegold and America's Frontline Doctors, is making millions of dollars off of hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin, data provided to The Intercept by an anonymous hacker reveals https://t.co/KqQyBcEXvK
— Micah (@micahflee) September 28, 2021
Remember when Covid was a blue-state problem? Via the invaluable Charles Gaba, at this point Trumpism is a death cult https://t.co/Lonn2nusdo pic.twitter.com/4AB5ekyVzg
— Paul Krugman (@paulkrugman) September 28, 2021
Republicans are a death cult. pic.twitter.com/nIR7kAPZYn
— Review & Resist (@ReviewResist) September 29, 2021
We’ve had three 9/11’s worth of dead Americans ***in the past week due*** almost entirely to vaccine refusal, while @tedcruz and others grandstand about vaccine requirements. https://t.co/ljt5fxCN5r
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) September 28, 2021
PHOTO: World’s shittiest parent. #TrumpRally pic.twitter.com/p9m44psAKk
— Middle Age Riot (@middleageriot) September 25, 2021
And people wonder how Jim Jones got parents to give their kids poison.
— The (Vaccinated) Ghost of August West (@August_West_GD) September 25, 2021
They’re everywhere. pic.twitter.com/AVuuXII7zG
— Newjerseygirl (@dppav) September 25, 2021
KEY DEBATE MOMENT >> Not only does Glenn Youngkin say he won't require COVID vaccines, he does NOT support requiring vaccines for measles or polio. Incredible #VAGov pic.twitter.com/w8VwEh5kjA
— Christina Freundlich (@christinafreund) September 29, 2021
BREAKING: Lead Florida GOP Senator, Manny Diaz calls for a review of all vaccine mandates, including polio, mumps, and rubella.https://t.co/M30tLc5vAw
— WCPT 820 (@WCPT820) September 23, 2021
My apologies to boxes of rocks everywhere. https://t.co/ILs122R3O4
— Charles P. Pierce (@CharlesPPierce) September 29, 2021
Biden is gonna win Wisconsin again pic.twitter.com/q4FjKsnCeH
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 29, 2021
If you've ever tended bar, you know this face all too well. https://t.co/146tbkGrBx
— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) September 30, 2021
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