The Failed Promise of “Objective” Political ReportingThis post originally appeared on .There are two main reasons why the leaders of America’s elite newsrooms are so devoted to the journalistic practice commonly referred to as “,” which precludes reporters from “taking sides” in their political coverage —  even when one side is an obvious lie, or an affront  to core journalistic values like pluralism and democracy.The official reason is that they sincerely believe that press neutrality leads to a more informed electorate. They argue that voters will trust their news sources more...…The Failed Promise of “Objective” Political ReportingThis post originally appeared on .There are two main reasons why the leaders of America’s elite newsrooms are so devoted to the journalistic practice commonly referred to as “,” which precludes reporters from “taking sides” in their political coverage —  even when one side is an obvious lie, or an affront  to core journalistic values like pluralism and democracy.The official reason is that they sincerely believe that press neutrality leads to a more informed electorate. They argue that voters will trust their news sources more...WW…

Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as they storm the US Capitol in Washington, DC on January 6, 2021. - Demonstrators breeched security and entered the Capitol as Congress debated the a 2020 presidential election Electoral Vote Certification.--This article was co-produced with , an independent site that monitors and critiques American political coverage. Please consider supporting Press Watch by .There is so much going on these days. But what I keep coming back to is that if the Capitol Police had been anything close to properly mobilized, none of it would have...…Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as they storm the US Capitol in Washington, DC on January 6, 2021. - Demonstrators breeched security and entered the Capitol as Congress debated the a 2020 presidential election Electoral Vote Certification.--This article was co-produced with , an independent site that monitors and critiques American political coverage. Please consider supporting Press Watch by .There is so much going on these days. But what I keep coming back to is that if the Capitol Police had been anything close to properly mobilized, none of it would have...WW…

December 20, 2020 5:46PM (UTC)Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)--This article was co-produced with , an independent site that monitors and critiques American political coverage. Please consider supporting Press Watch by .Now that Donald Trump is down and almost out, our major media news organizations seem to have  that nothing that comes out of his mouth can be trusted. They no longer consider him credible — not only about the election results, but also about the pandemic and its devastating economic consequences. His astonishing lack of empathy is now accepted as a given,...…December 20, 2020 5:46PM (UTC)Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)--This article was co-produced with , an independent site that monitors and critiques American political coverage. Please consider supporting Press Watch by .Now that Donald Trump is down and almost out, our major media news organizations seem to have  that nothing that comes out of his mouth can be trusted. They no longer consider him credible — not only about the election results, but also about the pandemic and its devastating economic consequences. His astonishing lack of empathy is now accepted as a given,...WW…

Donald Trump--This article was co-produced with , an independent site that monitors and critiques American political coverage. Please consider supporting Press Watch by .The  that Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Robert Redfield forced career staff to delete an incriminating email from a Trump political appointee is a red-alert moment for Washington-based reporters, who should fan out everywhere Trump loyalists may be destroying the evidence of their misdeeds as they head out the door."Reporters should start looking at that right now and start saying...…Donald Trump--This article was co-produced with , an independent site that monitors and critiques American political coverage. Please consider supporting Press Watch by .The  that Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Robert Redfield forced career staff to delete an incriminating email from a Trump political appointee is a red-alert moment for Washington-based reporters, who should fan out everywhere Trump loyalists may be destroying the evidence of their misdeeds as they head out the door."Reporters should start looking at that right now and start saying...WW…

November 18, 2020 11:00AM (UTC)US President Donald Trump speaks to the press in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on July 28, 2020.--view in appThis article was co-produced with , an independent site that monitors and critiques American political coverage. Please consider supporting Press Watch by .The conventional wisdom among the leaders of our major newsrooms is that the best way to reach people who believe crazy, awful things is to remain neutral.They maintain that taking sides would actually make news organizations even less credible with that particular...…November 18, 2020 11:00AM (UTC)US President Donald Trump speaks to the press in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on July 28, 2020.--view in appThis article was co-produced with , an independent site that monitors and critiques American political coverage. Please consider supporting Press Watch by .The conventional wisdom among the leaders of our major newsrooms is that the best way to reach people who believe crazy, awful things is to remain neutral.They maintain that taking sides would actually make news organizations even less credible with that particular...WW…

Supporters of President Trump rally outside Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Oct. 3, 2020 in Bethesda, Maryland. Trump arrived at the hospital yesterday after testing positive for COVID-19.view in app--October 4, 2020 10:00AM (UTC)This article was co-produced with , a new website that monitors and critiques American political coverage. Please consider supporting Press Watch by .Political journalists covering the highly dramatic news that Donald Trump has been sickened by COVID-19 have been engaged in a public search for the right tone.They are understandably intent that their...…Supporters of President Trump rally outside Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Oct. 3, 2020 in Bethesda, Maryland. Trump arrived at the hospital yesterday after testing positive for COVID-19.view in app--October 4, 2020 10:00AM (UTC)This article was co-produced with , a new website that monitors and critiques American political coverage. Please consider supporting Press Watch by .Political journalists covering the highly dramatic news that Donald Trump has been sickened by COVID-19 have been engaged in a public search for the right tone.They are understandably intent that their...WW…

U.S. President Donald Trumpview in app--September 25, 2020 11:00AM (UTC)This article was co-produced with , a new website that monitors and critiques American political coverage. Please consider supporting Press Watch by .People who know and care about elections and democracy frantically sounded the alarm on Wednesday as Donald Trump's intention to steal the election became undeniable.But the leaders of our nation's top newsroom weren't listening. The New York Times put its  on Trump refusing to commit to a peaceful transition of power on page A15. The  was on A4....…U.S. President Donald Trumpview in app--September 25, 2020 11:00AM (UTC)This article was co-produced with , a new website that monitors and critiques American political coverage. Please consider supporting Press Watch by .People who know and care about elections and democracy frantically sounded the alarm on Wednesday as Donald Trump's intention to steal the election became undeniable.But the leaders of our nation's top newsroom weren't listening. The New York Times put its  on Trump refusing to commit to a peaceful transition of power on page A15. The  was on A4....WW…

Sign inLog into your accountyour usernameyour passwordPassword recoveryRecover your passwordyour emailWith the first votes in the 2020 presidential election already being cast, the nation’s political journalists face a moment of reckoning: Will they continue to treat this like a normal election, acting as if both sides have equally compelling claims on the American voter?Or will they sound the alarm, and make it clear in every story precisely what is at stake for the country?Our top newsroom leaders need to empower their political reporters and producers and editors to do the latter – right...…Sign inLog into your accountyour usernameyour passwordPassword recoveryRecover your passwordyour emailWith the first votes in the 2020 presidential election already being cast, the nation’s political journalists face a moment of reckoning: Will they continue to treat this like a normal election, acting as if both sides have equally compelling claims on the American voter?Or will they sound the alarm, and make it clear in every story precisely what is at stake for the country?Our top newsroom leaders need to empower their political reporters and producers and editors to do the latter – right...WW…