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Bluetus

(1,446 posts)
6. I don't think retribution would accomplish much. A better approach
Sat Aug 30, 2025, 04:57 PM
Saturday

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,

This administration is bullying the media to present one-sided reporting and commentary, for fear of punishment form a childish President whose ego can't tolerate any fact-checking or push-back. Everybody should understand that politics tends to move in pendulum swings. There will be another Democratic President and administration. While Democrats will never stand for the kind of authoritarian bullying we see daily from this President, we do intend to hold the media accountable for doing their job with integrity and with the highest of journalistic principles. I call upon my fellow Democratic leaders to join me in developing a canon of journalistic ethics that we will expect when we return to power, and we will aggressively punish "news" outlets that consistently fail to uphold these standards. We are immediately beginning the process of defining that new journalistic canon that will be applied when we are in office, and we welcome input from all points across the journalistic landscape.


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.

Recommendations

14 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

and undo what he did in a single stroke of a pen. AllaN01Bear Saturday #1
THIS! calimary Sunday #15
"" AllaN01Bear Sunday #21
There will be a comeuppance, on everyone that allowed this to happen, when all the is over. n/t aggiesal Saturday #2
Wow DarthDem Saturday #3
Every damn day the Beast is in the Peoples House prompts it. Joinfortmill Saturday #5
Yup. I Second that. Joinfortmill Saturday #4
I don't think retribution would accomplish much. A better approach Bluetus Saturday #6
Love your idea ! KS Toronado Saturday #8
100% agree. And by starting today Bluetus Saturday #10
Schools of journalism are still a thing, soldierant Saturday #11
I realy don't want to return to Huntley-Brinkley Bluetus Saturday #12
I don't think you'd find any soldierant Sunday #36
I think we are saying the same thing. Bluetus Sunday #37
K & R Permanut Saturday #7
Not only that, but oldmanlynn Saturday #9
Thats basically what happened in Australia Hornedfrog2000 Saturday #13
Oh MAN would I love to see that! calimary Sunday #16
The entire far right propaganda media system needs to be dismantled Glaisne Sunday #20
Right! Who needs that pesky First Amendment? tritsofme Sunday #31
It's a sad fucking state of affairs that I am the only one to rec this so far TheProle Sunday #35
Unfortunately, Trump has poisoned more than just his own supporters with a love for authoritarianism. tritsofme Monday #38
Having had a few glasses of wine this evening, I say just disband the whole fucking bunch. And then investigate them KPN Sunday #14
A couple ideas to add to yours: ReRe Sunday #17
I think something will happen that changes everything. A hunch, but these are not normal times. twodogsbarking Sunday #18
And I don't fucking want to hear we have to look forward. Glaisne Sunday #19
Yup. I agree. I just want to live long enough to see that fat bastard thrown out of the WH on his ass. CTyankee Sunday #22
I want to see him spend the rest of his miserable life in prison. Glaisne Sunday #24
We can dream but realistically that won't happen. I will be happy with him gone and sanity restored to our lives. CTyankee Sunday #29
Exactly. ChazInAz Sunday #33
Inshallah. nt Tommy Carcetti Sunday #23
And the woman who interviewed the governor of baltimore. Cherrycheeks Sunday #25
Martha Raddis...the interviewer. Cherrycheeks Sunday #26
Old enough to remember these kinds of predictions about 12 months ago... WarGamer Sunday #27
We also need to stop his stupid ballroom and restore the Rose Garden. Initech Sunday #28
Even though it will look like tit for tat, it's very important that we lock all of these criminals up ecstatic Sunday #30
The VERY first thing we need to do is take some members of the supreme court to prison for treason BComplex Sunday #32
The media kkmarie Sunday #34
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