The ‘Trump Era‘ has changed America’s media platforms. The media is ever evolving; it is no longer the freedom of the press. He called it “fake news” versus “real news.” But what he means is that Trump controlled the news. What he means is that the standards, rules, and journalism must portray him in a favorable light.
Trump has sued CBS over an edited 60 Minutes segment on Kamala Harris, which did not portray him in a favorable light. They paid him $16 million. And now they have fired late-night host Stephen Colbert, ‘The Late Show.‘ He has made remarks and comic satirical routines about Trump, and that is probably the real reason for his firing. Trump said he was glad to see Colbert be dismissed. CBS is merging with Paramount, and to complete the transaction, it requires approval from the Federal Communications Commission.
And then there is the defunding of Public Broadcasting Service and National Public Radio. This is shameful and a drastic move by the government.
PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) was indeed founded, in part, to address the perceived lack of quality and educational programming on commercial television, which was famously described as a “vast wasteland.”
In 1961, Newton Minow, then-chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), delivered a speech in which he criticized the state of American television, calling it a “vast wasteland” filled with violence and uninspired entertainment. This influential speech highlighted the missed opportunities for television to serve the public interest through educational and cultural programming.
The Public Broadcasting Act of 1967, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, established the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to encourage and support the development of non-commercial educational television and radio. PBS was then founded in 1969 by the CPB to become the primary distributor of this type of programming to local public television stations across the United States.
In essence, PBS was created to offer an alternative to the commercial television landscape, providing programming focused on education, culture, and public affairs, thereby addressing the concerns raised by Minow’s “vast wasteland‘ critique. Minow’s concern for children transformed TV.
In full disclosure, my program, NDIGO STUDIO, appears nationally on the PBS network. This is where intelligent media resides. This is the home of documentaries, in-depth profiles, and a look at history and cultural performances, as well as scientific and animal stories, cooking shows, and of course, the favorite, Sesame Street. Small communities and rural areas will be shocked and deprived when these stations are removed from their communities. I predict they will survive, as they have adapted their business model to include paid advertising.
In other words, the traditional media landscape is undergoing significant changes. Some major newspapers have ceased to write editorials.The change is to say nothing negative about Trump, because he will sue the company for millions. So, what happens to TRUTH? Does it go away? Adolf Hitler also controlled the media in Germany after assuming power. The message to the people and the variety of messages they receive are critical to a democracy. We are moving toward a dictatorial, autocratic media with a government voice.
So, now that Trump can sue for misinformation, Black people and women should also sue the media for the lies and falsehoods that have spread. How many marginalized individuals have gone to jail because of a newspaper story? Consider the racist men who were guilty but were later freed in the Emmett Till case. What about men accused of rape or those who were in the wrong place at the wrong time? If Trump can sue, then people who have been misidentified, denied justice, or falsely accused should have the same right.
