Surely, you have faced at least once, the hesitant pen, the lingering fingers over a keyboard, the crumpled pages of abandoned drafts littering your floor; known to many is this frustration of a lack of ideas before your next assignment that is due, or the suddenly blank mind when trying to brainstorm for a story. If these experiences sound familiar, you are lucky.
Being able to write is a privilege taken for granted. It is a symbol of freedom, and one of the most important pillars of democracy. However, the once again presidentially elected Donald J. Trump frequently speaks against the media, criticizing the press, possibly one of our country’s greatest liberties, as one of the people’s greatest enemies.
While Trump is not wrong to be outspoken against misinformation in journalism, his constant antagonization of the press should be a concern not overlooked by our country, for taking such a large platform advertised to a broad audience, with little to no sources backing up each quickly readable and harshly charged claim on one’s feed, Trump has the potential to turn backs against the press.
As revealed by Columbia Journalism Review on November 14, Donald Trump has threatened and sued for $10 billion in recently filed lawsuits against New York Times and Penguin Random House. In a legal letter signed by Trump’s lawyer, Edward Andrew Paltzik, accusations of false and defamatory statements were made. An additional lawsuit was made against CBS.
In the legal letter, a further accusation was made, and it was one that held much more charge than the other. The letter addressed New York Times as “‘a full-throated mouthpiece of the Democratic Party’ that employs ‘industrial-scale libel against political opponents,’” Columbia Journalism Review detailed further. This is a striking example of how Trump views the media as an enemy working against him, in direct contrast to the tool that provides freedom of expression for Americans that the press really is.
Though concerning, the lawsuits are not the only way in which Trump has made his stance on the press glaringly apparent. The former president’s Twitter platform has served as a showcase for thousands of tweets unfavorable to the media, often addressing it as “corrupt,” “fake news,” or as “LameStream Media.” While seemingly purely antagonistic, these words could hang heavy in the hearts of journalists as Trump approaches power once again, as in the past he has “called for NBC to lose its license over its coverage of criminal charges,” and “has repeatedly pledged to jail reporters if they don’t identify confidential sources,” as stated by David Folkenflik of NPR.
Disheartening above all else is that these words are being spoken by the man who is promising to lead our country into a greater time. A desire for a great America and the desire to strip it of one of its most glowing symbols of freedom are figures that cannot exist simultaneously. A threat against journalism is a threat against democracy.
Many are concerned for what Trump’s presidency will mean for their rights. In light of recent turmoil surrounding human rights, the right to write is one that must not be overshadowed.
Oftentimes it can be forgotten that we live in a country with opportunities like free speech that aren’t accessible to all around the world. With the man in front of our country being one who is threatening one of our greatest privileges, we must not take it for granted. Journalism is important in our society, and to keep it alive, we must take it with charge. Therefore, the next time you write, write vigorously, write boldly, and write gratefully.