The historic United States 2016 Presidential Election brought with it a new age of hatred for the media. While journalists, reporters, and other brands of community watchdogs have been revered and reviled since their inception, the election of Donald Trump as the United States president reignited still-burning embers of loathing for the press.
Claims that journalists are liars, that the media is spreading falsities in order to further some kind of hidden agenda, and the general distrust of the practices of the press is nothing new to American society. Ronald Reagan hated the press, going as far as having U.S. Navy officers shoot at boats carrying journalists after the attack on launched on Grenada in 1983, especially after the Watergate Scandal, viewed most media organizations hostile toward him in the presidency. Most government officials also have tumultuous relationships with the media, as members of the media have the power to bring sensitive and oftentimes negative information to light about the practices of said officials.
To achieve a better understanding of the topic of fake news and why we as a society need journalists, I spoke with Dr. You Li, an assistant professor of journalism at Eastern Michigan University.
Listen to Rylee’s interview with Dr. Li above, or access The Eastern Echo Podcast on Spotify, Stitcher, or Apple Podcasts.
