I do not work for the press and I am not writing to sell newspapers, but I do get a little defensive when my president refers to the media as “the enemies of the American people.”
The press and the news media at large are not my enemies. They are a vital part of our democracy working to maintain checks and balances along with the three branches of government, namely the executive, legislative, and judicial. Many of us may have a love-hate relationship with the media, especially when we disagree with their views, but we don’t classify them as fake or dishonest or evil.
President Trump has repeatedly attacked the media and has tried to undermine their credibility. What is Trump afraid of and what does he have to hide? What doesn’t he want us to know about his ties to Russia?
It’s as if the media do not have a right to ask pertinent questions or challenge his lies. This is dangerous to our democracy. Even Republican Sen. John McCain stated that attacking the press is “how dictators get started.”
No one I know considers the media enemies. In light of the way Trump is treating the media, we need to support and encourage journalists to work diligently to uncover the truth, clearly explain it to us, and boldly speak truth to power. That would include challenging Trump and his team who deal with what his counselor Kellyanne Conway refers to as “alternative facts.”
What? Just the facts please. The truth. That’s why the press is vital to our democracy.
Ron Ostrosky
Bethlehem
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