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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsI swear to fucking Gawd once we retake the WH in 2029
The entire fucking mediaverse should have to earn their way back into the press pool. Start with that fuckstick Jake Tapper and subject him to the kind of lock out that will make him an example.
You want access, right wing toadies? Start with doing your fucking jobs when covering the fucking pedophile and his cabal of sycophants.
Oh, and expose media moguls like that bald-headed, goofy billionaire-womanizer and the myth of how he built Amazon from his fucking garage.

AllaN01Bear
(27,263 posts)
aggiesal
(10,279 posts)DarthDem
(5,416 posts)What prompted this?
Joinfortmill
(18,808 posts)Joinfortmill
(18,808 posts)Bluetus
(1,444 posts)Last edited Sat Aug 30, 2025, 08:08 PM - Edit history (1)
would be to publish the canons of journalism, as expected from all outlets, regardless of where they might lie on the political spectrum, and then be very aggressive in punishing those who violate the canons.
What would the canons be? Well, we might even ask the MSM to give their input. It would be interesting what they would come up with, as so many of them seem to know nothing about journalism and the traditions of ethical reporting. But here are some things that could be included:
* No AI videos, doctored photos or comments/text taken out of context
* No accusations without multiple, credible, verified sources
* No "back door" accusations using demagogic tricks like "Some people are saying" and "I'm just asking questions"
* The network must allow fair opportunity, on air, for others to contest the facts or the lack of context presented by the network. That doesn't mean equal time, but if a network gets its facts wrong, they must allow for corrections with the same prominence as was given to the misinformation.
* No distinction between "daytime reporting and evening infotainment". All programming on any "news channel" must be subject to the same journalistic standards, and a violation by an "opinion show" on a "news channel" will result in punishment of the entire channel.
And here's a key thing: We could start that process today. Newsom could come out with a statement, something like,
The point is to get that canon out in front of the public today, and to start calling out the networks that violate that canon. We need them to feel the heat for capitulating to the dictator.
I'd suggest Democrats go step further and start publishing grades for each media outlet in terms of their integrity and commitment to the journalistic canon, much like Nate Silver published grades for pollsters. That was effective. Nobody wants to be called out with a D or F.
KS Toronado
(21,140 posts)We'll definitely need to do something with our news media when we retake the White House.
And make sure that people understand the new "system" is in place only because previous
members of the press sold their souls for 30 pieces of silver.
Bluetus
(1,444 posts)we can't be credibly accused of retribution. Moreover we can call out violations and put the offenders on notice that such violation of the canon will be punished in our administration.
Of course, we don't want to punish anybody. We want all journalists to be ethical, even if they don't always share our points-of-view. And by beginning the process of calling out the D and F players, the C and C+ players will get the point that we aren't going to accept even C-level journalistic ethics.
soldierant
(8,889 posts)and they have pedagogues who pretty well know all about Walter Cronkite, and Huntley-Brinkley, Edward R Murrow, and all those others we used to trust - because they were trustworthy. I'd want input from them.
Bluetus
(1,444 posts)They brought the white, corporate point-of-view, but were always lagging on issues of progress. But they did follow basic principles of journalism. I don't recall them ever going with doctored photos and quotes out of context.
We need a diversity of voices. But we cannot tolerate networks that platform kooks saying that vaccines cause autism, without a shred of medical evidence to support that. We can't have networks that cut off quotations, just as they are getting to the point that they refute the agenda the network is pushing. We can't have networks that repeat the same falsehoods over and over and are never forced to correct their lies.
soldierant
(8,889 posts)doctored photos or quotes out of context even if you went through al the records. Which I why i think that existing (obsolete) codes of ethics would be a good way to start. I didn't mean you'd have to stay there.
Bluetus
(1,444 posts)Last edited Mon Sep 1, 2025, 09:57 AM - Edit history (1)
The old canon of journalism was good, including the Fairness Doctrine that Reagan killed. But that canon has been severely degraded for 30 years and doesn't exist in ANY form in any of the major media now.
Take for example that ABC interview of Pritzker that people have been praising. The interviewer spent the whole time quizzing Pritzker about why he wasn't kissing Trump's ass and not once ever acknowledged that everything Trump is doing with the national Guard, ICE, tariffs. etc is absolutely illegal -- in direct opposition to the Constitution. I have to admire Pritzker's patience with that idiot. He must have had quite an urge to burst across the table and shake that guy by the neck saying, "Have you ever even read the Constitution? How can you ask questions like this? How dare you call yourself a journalist. You are only interested in stirring up the shit."
A legitimate journalist would acknowledge that:
* Deploying military against the people is illegal (Posse Comitatus)
* Trump is threatening only states with Democratic Governors
* If it were about crime, there are 25 major cities (mostly in red states) with higher crime rates than Chicago
But the ABC person didn't acknowledge ANY of those points, even when Pritzker spelled them out plainly.
A legitimate journalist would acknowledge the facts and then direct the questioning to what we SHOULD be doing, given these facts.
Yet, as unprofessional as this interview was, many here still praised it because it wasn't as bad as what we usually get. That's bullshit. We should be demanding that these networks uphold ethical, fact-based journalistic principles. We can't have an honest, useful dialog when the interviewers dwell entirely in the domain of "Trump facts" (e.g. "Everybody knows Chicago is a hellhole."
Permanut
(7,519 posts)oldmanlynn
(714 posts)The next Democratic administration should declare Fox News enemy of the country and move to disband it and destroy it. I mean, thats what Trump would do so Democrats need to do that destroy Fox News shut them down take away their license.
Hornedfrog2000
(842 posts)Murdoch was run out of there.
calimary
(87,621 posts)Glaisne
(602 posts)along with treasonous think tanks, especially Heritage, and the media company monopolies need to be broken up.
tritsofme
(19,484 posts)TheProle
(3,601 posts)But I am proud to do so.
Authoritarianism, indeed.
tritsofme
(19,484 posts)KPN
(16,896 posts)for treason against the State. Sounds radical and impulsive, but I'm feeling in favor of visceral spontaneity with this bunch when we're back in control. Why not?
On edit: I'm in favor of oldmanlynn's post above -- dismantle Fox News and deport all the Murdoch's as their only viable option.
ReRe
(11,833 posts)Jake Tapper would be out for good. Period.
Next: I would ask AP to take over the duties of the WH Press Corp. Period.
No moguls or oligarchs. Period.
Carry on.
twodogsbarking
(15,410 posts)Glaisne
(602 posts)And not look back as an excuse to not prosecute. I want non-stop investigations, hearings and prosecutions! Otherwise the whole cycle starts over again!
CTyankee
(66,947 posts)And I never want to hear about him again.
Glaisne
(602 posts)Preferably in solitary confinement. The same for the rest of his vile cabinet.
CTyankee
(66,947 posts)I don't know about JD.
Modern day Nuremberg trials, then a thorough truth and reconciliation period for those who aren't in prison.
Tommy Carcetti
(44,158 posts)Cherrycheeks
(250 posts)On this week. Every time he answered her questions there was a ...but,but..Ask those damn Republicans why they are destroying this country. 😡 She let that little weasel on the panel talk shit! No buts there she loves to correct Democrats. No push back on Reince Prebius POS!!!😠
Cherrycheeks
(250 posts)WarGamer
(17,755 posts)Me thinks you're getting "out in front of your skis"
Initech
(106,153 posts)
ecstatic
(34,894 posts)Every last one. Throw the book at them. No mercy, no turning the page. Look where that weak mentality got us last time. Make sure this type of bullshit never happens again!
BComplex
(9,535 posts)against the constitution they were sworn to uphold.
kkmarie
(315 posts)The fuckin media who never ever gave President Biden a break 😤 screaming at him and his press secretaries.
And let's not forget the media that didn't give Secretary of State Clinton any air time because they were too busy covering every fuckin thing that Krasnov was doing. And the media who didn't bother to report all the tremendous things Biden-Harris did for our country, pulling us out of crashed economy after Krasnov's first term.
Oh no Fuck all of them! Never trust them...ever.
The new media should be the independent Podcaster and substackers. Medias Touch, Adam Mockler, the Bulwark, Rick Wilson only to name so very few.
The current media are all tainted and will never be back to fair journalism.
Fuck them they brought us here.
RELEASE THE EPSTEIN FILES NOW