Dakota Beacon

Look around. Even a blind person can see journalism’s transformation. Who wants to consume junk passed off as “news”? Apparently not the American public.

CNN’s ratings are down more than 50% in multiple categories falling below the top 5 cable news networks. That includes a 60% decline in the critical 25-60 age demographic. MSNBC saw a similar decline. Even Fox News experienced a big decline although it came out ahead of other news networks in new ratings. Recent Gallup polling indicates only 28% of Americans believe journalists have worthy ethical standards. In other words, why waste time consuming a faulty product?

There are reasons why the legacy media ratings continue to plummet. Slowly but surely Americans see the major news outlets for what they are: leftwing activists disguised as journalists advancing the agenda of liberals in general and the Democrat Party in particular. These journalists behave as hit-and-run drivers. They come to the scene of a major story, stir up emotions, agitate, publicize untruths, and wreak havoc. Once facts come to light, these “journalists” ignore facts and are long gone and on to the next story. In their wake these “journalists” leave anger, division, and dissension. Mission accomplished.

Major news media adopted methods created by the advertising world to fool the news-consuming public into believing what they see constitutes real journalistic reporting. In fact, the public is treated to suppression and mockery of inconvenient truths (Hunter and Joe Biden corruption), made-up stories using anonymous sources (Russia-gate and Ukraine-gate), and outright lies (ergo former President Trump, his supporters, burying information on his accomplishments, and a stolen election).

Sampling the bilge called “news” removes all doubt as to “why” the decline. Try this.

“Rioting is inherently American. Throughout US history, from the Boston Party to the ongoing George Floyd protests, demonstrators can be found fighting for change and against oppression on the streets.” Sounds like a business-as-usual sort of thing according to The Huffington Post story “How Riots Built America,” 6/12/20.

“Destroying property, which can be replaced, is not violence. To use the same language to describe those two things, I think is really not moral to do that.” So said Nikole Hannah-Jones, creator of the anti-American “1619 Project,” when she appeared on CBS News and as quoted by The New York Post, 6/3/20.

Guidance from the Associated Press Stylebook follows. “Focusing on rioting and property destruction rather than underlying grievance has been used in the past to stigmatize broad swaths of people protesting against lynching, police brutality, or for racial justice, going back to the urban uprisings of the 1960’s.” National Review, 10/1/20.

“Limit use of the term looting. Some have long viewed the word as carrying racial overtones…Sensitivity is heightened now in light of President Donald Trump’s ‘looting and shooting’ tweet and the history dating to the civil rights era.” This from the Associated Press Stylebook as noted in American Thinker, 10/1/20.

“This will guide our reporting in MN. ‘While the situation on the ground in Minneapolis is fluid, and there has been violence, it is most accurate at this time to describe what is happening there as “protests” – not riots.’” That’s the approved view of Craig Melvin, NBC and MSNBC reporter as posted on FOX News, 5/28/20.

“We should not – for the rest of their careers – refer to any of these Republican [Electoral College] objectors as ‘conservatives.’ They are radicals. They are extremists. There is nothing conservative about subverting democracy.” This from Tim Alberta, Politico’s chief political correspondent, reported on FOX News, 1/5/21.

“Fiery But Mostly Peaceful Protests After Police Shooting.” CNN chyron from burning car lot during Kenosha, WI riots, 8/27/20.

“At the core, this is a principled, righteous resistance. This is a marvelous militancy that’s going to lead to some real social change, I do believe.” Thus spoke Marc Lamont Hill, BET News host and Temple University professor of media studies as reported on NPR, 6/2/20

A word of caution to those altruistic young people drawn to a career in journalism. After all, what young person doesn’t want to “speak truth” to power? They must first transit the journalism departments of biased universities. Next they will confront the leftist corporate media ladder kowtowing to every strange bird flying in the cultural fog. Only after full indoctrination will they gain access to the rarified atmosphere of major news media outlets.

There is, however, a real need for young, moral, and untainted journalists in general, and investigative reporters in particular, to report through clear and honest eyes. Their road will not be easy and the pay often inadequate, but a growing number of competitive outlets promoting truthful reporting and well researched commentary have a crying need for fresh bright minds.