How should the media handle Trump 2.0?

The journalism industry is filled with anxiety as it contemplates how to deal with the second presidential term of Donald Trump, now that its clear the strategy of resistance and rage against Trump, adopted from 2015 through 2024, has backfired.

News organizations fear that the president-elect will batter the First Amendment and restrict free press rights. There is no doubt that Trump is an antagonist of the media, promising at a recent press briefing that he wants to “straighten out the press” because “our press is very corrupt.” He is happy to file lawsuits against media outlets as a way to intimidate and hassle the press. Probably more damaging is his public criticism and jawboning about fake news and journalistic incompetence.

Reporters Without Borders and The Columbia Journalism Review have both issued anxious statements about the dangers faced by the media in a second Trump term. Undoubtedly, editors and news producers around the country shivered in December when ABC News settled a defamation suit filed by Trump. That cave-in might suggest the media is, indeed, on its heels in front of the aggressive Trump anti-press machine.

The Washington Post recently produced a story that asked 10 “influential journalists” for their suggestions on how the news industry should report about Trump’s upcoming term. The roster of journalists came from the establishment media, including some curious and largely forgotten selections such as former CNN host Don Lemon and former network anchors Brian Williams and Katie Couric.

The establishment and old media, however, as has been shown lately, is largely detached from a broad swath of American news consumers. That sad reality was acknowledged by former Los Angeles Times editor, Kevin Merida, who commented, “We need to get a better handle on our country. Our understanding of our fellow citizens is not sophisticated enough.”

Merida’s comment appears to be on target. With that in mind, perhaps the Post should do another story asking regular Americans how they think the news industry should be reporting on Trump’s second term.

The journalists’ advice to the Post was generally boilerplate material about holding Trump accountable and covering Trump’s second term, as former New York Times Editor, Jill Abramson commented, “without fear or favor.” That’s all well and good, but the media would be well-advised to think more broadly, and do the introspection that can lead to a reinvention of Trump coverage.

The second Trump term promises to be a Wild West news-wise, and the news industry needs to be more nimble. It can’t just apply the failed game plan of how it covered Trump’s first term. Coverage of Trump’s mercurial personality, his bluster and his various brushfires should be minimized compared to actual results (or lack thereof) for matters that mean the most to Americans.

News consumers have been fully informed of Trump’s bombast, his character issues, his legal battles and his over-sized personality for upwards of eight years. They elected him for another term anyway.

It is time for the news producers and editors to move on to whether Trump can deliver results for the citizenry on things like border security, the cost of groceries and gas, and international threats. That can be accomplished with accuracy and fairness, and without drama and activism.

None of this is to say the journalism industry needs to make nice with Trump. Interestingly, some corners of the media world are concerned that the news business will “suck-up” to Trump, as if that would do any good. Suffice it to say, Trump doesn’t like journalists, and the wide majority of mainstream reporters don’t like Trump. But journalists need to get over themselves and remember they are serving American news consumers.

Reporters can hold the Trump administration fully accountable without necessarily being antagonistic. Major League Baseball managers don’t like umpires, but the umpires still call balls and strikes as honestly as they can for the integrity of the game.

Media credibility is in decline and there is no doubt that the influence of establishment media is tanking in the multi-media world of podcasters, bloggers, social media and various kooks. The upcoming second Trump term will certainly be a test for the establishment media.

If the traditional news industry strikes out, that could be the end of the game. Ditching the resistance and rage strategy in favor of measured, audience-focused coverage could help reestablish the news industry’s place in the American public sphere.

Jeffrey M. McCall is a media critic and professor of communication at DePauw University. He has worked as a radio news director, a newspaper reporter and as a political media consultant.

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