‘Trump Pain’: Avoidable Phrase Coined By US Media – OpEd
Even before Donald Trump was sworn in as US President, it appears that a major segment of US media has taken a stand and have already made up their mind to become pledged critics of Trump.
A section of the US media representing the American Press Corps, White House journalists, in an open letter to then President-elect Donald Trump said that it is the reporters and not him who will set the rules and decide what to serve the readers.
Whither fair journalistic practice?
Of course, the journalists can write whatever they want, but should they also not care about the need for ethical, honest and fair journalistic practices, where a journalist remains neutral and does not have a preconceived view? It is well known that major section of US media carried out a vigorous campaign during the Presidential election to ensure that Trump would be defeated. They also released several pre-poll opinion surveys prominently indicating that Trump would be decisively defeated. Abusive slogans were coined against Trump to create a sense of hatred among the people. All this did not work.
Now, just before the swearing in, the media reported that one million people would attend the swearing in ceremony of Donald Trump and of this one million people, at least 25% of them would be there to express their displeasure against his swearing in and would raise their voice against him. Obviously, the media personnel want to raise a phobia that Donald Trump is very unpopular in USA.
Why is the media unwilling to recognize the verdict of the people?
What is particularly shocking is that a section of US media refuses to recognize that Trump has won an election conducted democratically as per the established practices and majority of Americans voted for him. This is very unacceptable stand of the US media.
During the Presidential election, many people who have no particular political leanings suspected that US media has some vested interest in defeating Trump and due to such misgivings, the US media lost its credibility to some extent.
However, many thought that after the conclusion of the election, the media would take an objective and neutral stand and reclaim its image as a progressive and non partisan entity. Unfortunately, this is not happening.
Why not give time for the new President before judging?
It is a general accepted principle and tradition that in all democratic countries that when a new party would come to power and a new President would take over after the conclusion of the election, the new team would be provided one hundred days of time to find their feet and work out their plans. During this hundred days period , even the worst critics would not be critical and would exercise caution in making adverse observations. Why is the US media not following this healthy practice in the case of Donald Trump ?
It is known that the pre-election observations made by the contestants in the Presidential election would not be the guidelines for them in conducting the affairs after getting elected except for the basic policies and programs. When a new President assumes office, he may come to know several aspects and information which may not have been available to him before getting into the office. In such circumstances, the newly elected President is bound to change his perspectives and priorities and remodify his approach, in the light of facts placed before him. Why does a section of US media would not think that Trump may modify some of his views after assuming office ?
It is unfortunate that Donald Trump is being subjected to such level of scathing criticism even before he would assume office and start functioning. In the process, media loses more than Donald Trump.
Conflict would be counter productive
It is neither good for media nor for Trump to have an attitude of confrontation with each other. If such confrontation would persist, it would not do good for America and only frustrate the people.
One only hopes that some sense will prevail among US media personnel and they will become more constructive and responsible in airing their views.
Of course, they can set their own rules but let it not be based on prejudices and unprofessional journalistic approach.
