After former President Donald Trump’s attacks on journalism during his tenure, President Joe Biden captured his dedication to preserving the field with a simple statement: “Tonight our message is this: journalism is not a crime,” he said at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in 2023.
Trump’s violent rhetoric surrounding factual media dismisses journalism, but Biden is working to reinstate the belief that journalism is an important entity to democracy. As Election Day approaches, journalists and Americans aware of the importance of the press must vote accordingly.
Although combating misinformation and “fake news” is crucial to proper journalism and media consumption, Trump’s attacks were largely centered around media outlets he simply disliked – including CNN, The Washington Post and The New York Times.
Dana Milbank, a columnist for The Washington Post, had his White House press pass revoked for the first time in 21 years under Trump’s presidency. Access to the White House for a columnist reporting on public figures in the federal government is critical, but Trump did not enjoy how he was being portrayed – posing a serious threat to the First Amendment.
In the Trump era, there was a lack of press briefings in comparison to recent predecessors – which are a crucial way that journalists obtain information from the Capitol. The New York Times reported that Martha Joynt Kumar, the director of the White House Transition Project, believes that the Trump administration used briefings for personal gain, rather than serving the press.
It also reported Oliver Knox’s distaste with how the Trump administration handled press briefings. Knox, the president of the White House Correspondents’ Association in 2019, said, “While other avenues exist to obtain information, the robust, public back-and-forth we’ve come to expect in the James S. Brady briefing room helps highlight that no one in a healthy republic is above being questioned. This retreat from transparency and accountability sets a terrible precedent.”
Trump’s attacks on the media have influenced his supporters, who create an environment where journalists feel unsafe while doing their jobs. A report from the International Women’s Media Foundation said, "Journalists reported feeling at high risk while covering Trump rallies and 'Stop the Steal' protests, especially when some Trump supporters and protestors openly carry weapons.”
And now, the threat of a second Trump term looms over the press. NPR reported that, “...Trump has pledged to toss reporters in jail and strip major television networks of their broadcast licenses as retribution for coverage he didn't like.”
On the other hand, the Committee to Protect Journalists, or CPJ, noticed Biden’s relationship with the press was nearly the opposite of Trump’s. Press briefings are a regular occurrence and day-to-day interactions with media have improved, according to CPJ.
CPJ also reported on Vice President Kamala Harris’ former interactions with the press – noting that she would be likely to maintain a positive relationship as president. Although there is progress still to be made, the Biden administration clearly values reporters and the dissemination of information to Americans.
On May 3, 2023, Biden marked World Press Freedom Day by committing to protecting journalists. “We’re also working with partners around the world to launch a new fund dedicated to providing defense counsel to journalists," he wrote in a statement. “And we are providing funding to the Promoting Information Integrity and Resilience Initiative, which will help support a free and independent media, strengthen global information integrity, and help journalists do their jobs as safely as possible.”
Biden’s commitment to upholding journalism as a cornerstone of democracy is refreshing following Trump’s consistent attacks on the press. On Nov. 5, the future of journalism and media relations between the president and the press will be on the ballot – vote accordingly.
Layne Rey is a junior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnist do not reflect those of The Post. What are your thoughts? Let Layne know by tweeting her @laynerey12.
