President Trump took to Twitter this weekend to hammer his many critics in the so-called establishment media. Included in his tirade was a thread about Fox News. Mr. Trump vented his frustration by calling out several Fox hosts by name and mused about possible alternatives. Keeping his eye trained on these entrenched news sources will not yield a different result. As such, shouldn’t the president’s communications office alert him to fresh information avenues and give him a primer on how to tap into them?
The Answer Is Yes!
Since its inception, Fox has been trying to play in the sandbox with the old guard. These efforts often reveal an insecurity just below the surface of its news division. Program host Chris Wallace is a case in point. Wallace gets under not only the president’s skin but also that of many Fox viewers. Whether it is a need for attention or a lack of confidence in trying to fill his father’s shoes, Wallace irritates -- much like a nasty rash that will not go away. Former news industry leaders call out Fox as America’s State News, and the news people at Fox may take these barbs too seriously.
The president alluded to this in a compelling comment in one of his tweets: “The people who are watching @FoxNews, in record numbers (thank you, President Trump), are angry. They want an alternative now. So do I!”
Waiting for your stated enemies to change their minds and start to like you is an exasperating enterprise. Turning on the tube and expecting a different result is not the answer. There are several unexplored roads that lead to a more open, truthful news information highway -- you just need to know where to look. The White House Communications office is filled with bright people who could replace the president’s television remote with a computer mouse. What would be wrong with putting the president in front of the computer one morning with a line of say 10-15 news sites that offer more balanced coverage?
Ah, yes, the internet -- that is the ticket. Intellectually, the White House press office knows this, but, as is often said, old habits die hard. However, it needs only to look and -- shazam -- within this World Wide Web lie dozens of news sites with a more accurate view of current events. Thus far, the Trump administration has all but ignored these. Of course, communications officials are aware of the big players in this alternative media such as The Daily Caller and Newsmax. But what about the rest of us?
Liberty Nation, for instance, offers original news and analysis from a conservative perspective 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Our correspondents work tirelessly to write honest, reasonable articles about current events with insightful analysis. Yet each week, the White House puts out an email called “Resolute Reads” with notable articles of the week. Can you guess what sources are often cited? Would you believe CNN, The Hill, and CBS News?
As editor-in-chief of Liberty Nation, I am at a complete loss as to why the White House would give so much exposure to the people doing it the most harm. Why doesn’t “Resolute Reads” include The Epoch Times, American Greatness, Whatfinger Magazine, Mercury News, Liberty Unyielding, and, yes, Liberty Nation? The list of decent, honest, hard-working internet media sites is almost endless. The establishment media know this because we have been cutting into their territory -- inch by inch -- and their circulation and viewership are eroding.
Yet it is nearly impossible for these news outlets to get into the White House briefing room. If the president is at his wits’ end answering the same tired questions from the same people day after day, why not foster a more open atmosphere by inviting representatives from one or two of these alternative media organizations?
It seems quite evident that the status quo is not working. So change things up, open new doors, broaden the president’s horizon. As it is, inviting the same people to a dull party and expecting to have a good time is a fruitless endeavor. For a panoramic view, get your nose out of the microscope, step back, and see what else is out there.
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Stay tuned for what’s out there in the alternative TV land tomorrow.
Read more from Leesa K. Donner.
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