I’ve been saying it for years.
The American news media have lost their way.
In fact, this news business – WorldNetDaily – was launched because of my observation that the press had lost its sense of mission.
I’ve been very clear about what that mission is. But I doubt 1 percent of reporters and editors in this country have any clue about the primary role of a free press in a free society.
Now, there is empirical data to support my anecdotal theory.
The Council for Excellence in Government published findings of a mammoth study, “Government: In and Out of the News.”
The study found there is far less news about the federal government than there used to be on the evening news broadcasts, as well as on the front pages of the national and regional newspapers. In addition, news reporting on the federal government tends, the study found, to be focused on the executive branch.
The report examined more than 400 hours of airtime on the three major television network evening news shows and more than 13,000 front-page stories during the first year of three presidential administrations – Reagan, Clinton and George W. Bush. The number of stories touching on the federal government dropped by 31 percent on TV news, by 12 percent in the national print press (New York Times and Washington Post) and by 39 percent in the four regional newspapers analyzed (Austin American Statesman, Des Moines Register, San Jose Mercury and the St. Petersburg Times.)
The drop in government coverage would have been even more profound if it were not for the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Before Sept. 11, 2001, the report notes, the media were on track to produce more than 40 percent less government coverage than they carried 20 years ago.
Now, what’s the problem with all this?
The problem is that the primary role of a free press in a free society is to serve as a watchdog on government. And this drop in coverage is further substantiation of my theory that the news media have forgotten their mission.
Recently, another study showed the American people get this – even if my colleagues in the press don’t.
The Pew Research Center for the People and the Press conducted a wide-ranging survey on press issues earlier this month and found Americans remain largely supportive of the media’s role as a political watchdog. Most people – 54 percent – say that by criticizing political leaders, news organizations most often prevent them from doing wrong. Just 29 percent say media criticism gets in the way of political leaders doing their jobs.
Interestingly, Republicans, who claim to support smaller government, are less likely today than Democrats to support the watchdog role of the press. Back in 1999, when Democrats were running most of the federal government, they were less likely to recognize the important watchdog role of the press, according to the study.
Seven in 10 Americans see it as a good thing when news organizations take a “strong pro-American point of view,” according to the survey. A narrow majority of Americans – 51 percent – believe that news organizations generally “stand up for America.” However, many more people believe some news organizations are becoming too critical of America, 46 percent, than say they are becoming too pro-American, 25 percent.
Most Americans, 53 percent, believe that news organizations are politically biased, while just 29 percent say they are careful to remove bias from their reports. When it comes to describing the press, twice as many say news organizations are “liberal,” 51 percent, than “conservative,” 26 percent, while 14 percent say neither phrase applies.
None of this is too surprising.
When Democrats felt their man’s ox was being gored, they weren’t happy about it. When Republicans feel like their guys are in charge of the government, they would like to see the press back off.
Yet, everyone agrees the press has a liberal bias to begin with.
There’s one way the press can shake that image. It can assume its proper role in society all the time – giving government grief and holding it accountable for fraud, waste, abuse and corruption no matter who is in office.
And that’s just not what is happening today.
The answer to the institutional problems in the press is not more “fair and balanced” reporting. It’s not more “conservative” media. The answer is to return journalism to its roots – to reawaken the press to its vital role in a free society.
It’s time to remember who we are. We’re watchdogs.
