The media who cried 'despotism'

Once upon a time there was a large media class in a great republic. It contained reporters, pundits, and opinion formers of various types, who had once been respected. While the populace of that republic was busy raising families and working, this media class was sent out to watch over a swamp which, since the republic's founding, had been regarded as a possible source of tyranny. Its job was to chatter loudly and warn the populace of the approach of despotism.

Sometimes, out in the swamp, the media got sleepy and, in one period of eight years, most members dozed off even though undemocratic dangers loped past them in the form of an illegal war, a blatant lie and other abuses of power. These threats stole in among the populace and feasted, unremarked by the sleeping chatterers.

After this long nap of two sleep cycles, the media awoke and remembered they had a duty. But they were groggy and couldn't remember precisely what it was. So it determined to make as much noise as possible and to point out despotic dangers even where there were none.

Many new creatures were moving through the swamp. The media found them ugly, and didn't like them at all. Their response was mostly a mixture of snobbery and fear for their jobs. They decided to raise the alarm even though their job was to do so only at the approach of genuine threats to liberty and self-governance. Like young children thinking every noise at night is a witch or a goblin, the swamp guardians thought they detected abuse of power in every shadow.

Over there! That strange shape, half seen and entirely misperceived, looked like fascism. They just knew the wolves were coming. So they let out a scream.

Those media never slept, they were complicit with the swamp monsters since before McCarthy cried “wolf”. Now that the new swamp monsters are woopin’ all the old swamp monsters with whom they were allied, they don’t know how to make friends with the new boss. They want the old monsters back.

Doesn’t it just break your heart?

Derek Hunter opined in this subject matter a couple of days ago in TownHall.com. Below was my response to another FReeper who had taken a “journalism” class and I think it applies to this allegory today, too.

“Here’s my take on what Derek Hunter says in the column. For the most part, I agree with him and (Steven K.) Bannon. However, as happens quite often, there is a word usage that conflates two entirely different approaches. “Reporter” and “journalist” are NOT interchangeable terms or synonyms. Even though the class may have been a “snap”, I bet you were exposed to another basic, the “5 Ws and an H” - the keys to factual news: Who, What, Where, When, Why, How.

Those are the tools of a reporter, one who is dedicated to getting the information fast, right, and first. The journalist, instead, wants to use the first 4 Ws to get to the “Why” which is where everything jumps the rail. For the “journalist”, the “Why” is all about shaping the story to tell a tale that advances their point of view. For the reporter, the why is about getting the point of view from those involved in the news event to give depth to the story for the reader/viewer.

This is the battle being fought today and explains completely, for me anyway, how the media don’t get it. Their desire to be seen as a serious “journalist” keeps them from seeing plain facts, IMO.”

At one time the media had the title ‘the 4th estate’. That was a positive title since it ‘reported’. Did not take sides.

The title is no longer appropriate. It should have the title ‘the 5th column’. Why? By definition it is a group (media) that is attempting to undermine a nation’s solidarity by any means at its disposal.

That does truthfully define today’s media.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.