What a difference a week makes. Just a few days ago, Mike Bloomberg announced his candidacy for the 2020 presidential elections. No one was too surprised that the former New York mayor decided to throw his hat into the arena, and perhaps no one was too shocked when he ordered his news staff not to report in-depth on anything concerning him, his family, or his fellow Democrats. At first, the union that represents Bloomberg News staff was outraged at the gag order, but that went the way of yesterday’s trash, as the media now back the decision 100%. In fact, the decision that Bloomberg News will fully stand behind its boss has raised the ire of President Trump, who now has blocked Bloomberg reporters from attending or covering Trump campaign rallies or events.
Brad Parscale, a campaign manager for Trump 2020, explained the White House decision:
“The decision by Bloomberg News to formalize preferential reporting policies is troubling and wrong. Since they have declared their bias openly, the Trump campaign will no longer credential representatives of Bloomberg News for rallies or other campaign events. We will determine whether to engage with individual reporters or answer inquiries from Bloomberg News on a case-by-case basis. This will remain the policy of the Trump campaign until Bloomberg News publicly rescinds its decision.”
Mike Bloomberg
The Republican National Committee (RNC) joined in support of Trump’s decision. In a tweet, Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said, “Media outlets should be independent and fair, and this decision proves that Bloomberg News is neither.” She added that the GOP will no longer credential the Bloomberg staff at RNC events.
Integrity to Bias – Reporting on the Downslide
Whatever happened to unbiased reporting? Where are the news stories filled with facts and not speculation and truths twisted to further a political agenda or back a favored candidate? Mainstream media have left the world of sound journalism and become nothing more than opinion columns.
When Bloomberg first ordered his staff not to investigate him, at least while he is a presidential candidate, Liberty Nation’s Leesa K. Donner covered the story. She noted the union officials’ tweet:
“We are extremely alarmed by management’s decision to silence the journalists we represent at Bloomberg Industry Group, as well as the unrepresented journalists at Bloomberg News.
“The Guild believes journalists should not only be allowed — but encouraged — to thoroughly cover every single candidate as the profession demands in one of the most important elections in modern history.”
The newest Democratic presidential candidate is the founder of Bloomberg LP, which owns Bloomberg News, and an 89% shareholder. Just days after officials announced their disgust with the mum directive, Editor-in-Chief John Micklethwait said in a memo:
“We will continue our tradition of not investigating Mike (and his family and foundation) and we will extend the same policy to his rivals in the Democratic primaries. We cannot treat Mike’s democratic competitors differently from him.”
The news source will still cover the campaigns of all the Democratic candidates, including their boss’, Micklethwait said. They will carry polls and candidate interviews (from a positive slant, of course), and a reporter has been assigned to follow Bloomberg and his campaign efforts.
The same can’t be said for Republicans, and especially the president. “For the moment, our … team will continue to investigate the Trump administration, as the government of the day,” Micklethwait added.
So much for encouraging journalists “to thoroughly cover every single candidate as the profession demands.”
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Read more from Kelli Ballard.
