The mainstream news media is dying. Newspapers don’t sell. Why would they? Remember when we waited for the morning paper to be delivered so we could see what’s going on? Ha Ha. Tell that to a teenager. Internet news sites, Facebook, X, Instagram, who waits for anything.
And our favorite media companies – MSNBC, Fox News, name your favorite, are all losing viewers as we move on to podcasts and other sources. Joe Rogan has millions of followers. Read here. He alone is far more influential than most news networks.
Check this out:
Mainstream Media is Dying
We all know this, unfortunately the folks in mainstream media haven’t gotten the memo. I’m not sure why. There is much whining by our favorite outlets about staff cuts, budget cuts, subscriptions down….the signs are there. It just seems they are not putting it all together and making the giant leap to “nobody likes us.“
My dad used to say people vote with their feet – look where their feet are and you’ll see what they like or don’t like. People’s feet are moving away from mainstream media.
Trust
Just ask the folks at Gallup
Again, no surprise.
What Would You Do?
So let’s say we’re in charge of a media organization. How fun.
We’re the boss, we decide. We can tell our editors and writers what we think should be done and for me, job #1 would be to build back trust. How about you?
I’ve never run a media organization, but I can put these few facts together and come to this conclusion.
We may differ on how to do this, but I think most of us would get there.
How Not To
But it seems like the media is insistent on plowing forward on the how not to build trust playbook. I’ve written a few posts about this, but yesterday’s read is worthy of a brief mention.
Yesterday’s Headline
Before we get to the headline, some background. Zohran Mamdani leapt onto the national stage when he upset former Governor (and seemingly criminal) Mario Cuomo for the Democratic nomination for New York mayor.
Today we won’t be talking about his beliefs or his politics, but we will talk about the media’s handling of his words.
The headline from Fox News:
The headline from NPR:
And the commentary from Allsides
and as a side note, allsides needs to up their fact checking game. Chris Cuomo (referred to above as the former New York Governor) was the disgraced/fired CNN reporter. Mario Cuomo was the disgraced/fired former Governor. Get your disgraced/fired Cuomos correct!
My Thoughts
You probably already know.
I’m guessing that NPR supports Mamdani. As a supporter, they want to paint him in the best light possible to influence their readers.
However, let’s go back to job #1. Should job#1 be to influence our readers or should it be to build trust.
To me these 2 seem to be polar opposites. Building trust requires honesty. As a media company, or a writer or editor, it means asking tough questions and reporting the facts. Read Connie Chung’s biography. She talks about this in detail. Ah, the glory days of news reporting.
My observation about influencing is that it has become an industry. Influencing is centered around making people do things they wouldn’t otherwise do. I think about the poor young man in Worcester who passed away after eating a ridiculously spicy chip. An influencer encouraged him to take the challenge.
That’s an extreme and incredibly sad example but to me, that’s what the business of influencing has become.
And NPR, as an influencer (not a media company) has a mission to influence us to vote the way it thinks we should.
Facts be damned. Many would be unsupportive of a comment about increasing taxes in the richer and whiter neighborhoods. Even if they thought this was a good idea, they may balk at targeting a particular race.
So, simple solution, don’t report on that part. In fact, interview Mamdani after the comment and don’t even ask about it.
The funny part is that Mamdani proudly stands behind the comment. He’s said so after the fact.
What Happens When…
A person whose primary news source is NPR stumbles upon a news site, facebook feed item, instagram post, or other source that shows them the full commentary? What does this do for their trust in NPR?
How can media companies not get the message?
Lower trust means fewer readers which means lessened ability to influence !!! We’ve seen this play out over the past 20 years. As the readers get disheartened, they’ll find their news elsewhere. Spoiler alert: There are other sources.
When we get news elsewhere, you (NPR and your friends) lose your ability to influence.
So even if influnece is job #1, you’re shooting yourself in the foot by not telling us the whole story.
And Another Thing…
NPR wasn’t the only outlet at fault. Allsides found the whiter neighborhoods quote on some right and center leaning outlets, but not on one single left leaning outlet. Not one!
Wrap Up
I’m choosing to find this funny and get a good laugh.
How dumb do they think we are? Pretty dumb!
I believe that most NPR, MSNBC, CNN and other left leaning readers/viewers will come across the whiter comment elsewhere.
You can’t make this shit up.
And One More Thought?
What does Mamdani think?
I haven’t spoken to him, but I suspect that he chose his words carefully. He’s stood behind his phrasing.
How would he feel about left leaning media outlets re-phrasing his message for him?
I’m sure he appreciates that they know best and can deliver his message more effectively than he can.