The number of full-time American journalists who say they’re Republicans plummeted in the past decade, while Democrats in that profession rose.
According to a new survey titled “The American Journalist Under Attack,” released by Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Republicans in the industry fell from 18% in 2002 and 7.1% in 2013 to 3.4% in 2022.
That’s significantly lower than the number of American adults who say they’re Republicans (26%), according to a 2022 ABC News/Washington Post poll.
Washington Post, Dec. 30, 2023
Column By Mike Bibb
Ever wonder why the news seems biased towards conservatives? Maybe because it’s taught to be that way by American public schools and colleges.
This could have been the sub-title of longtime newspaperman John Young’s opinion column “The science of opt-in ignorance,” Gila Herald, Jan 22, 2024. Suggesting, I suppose, that most people are not knowingly naive – rather, they’re not exposed to alternative proposals.
If a lie is a lie until it becomes the truth after being repeated a thousand times, then we all probably opt for ignorance at one time or another. Much like a prospector may be deceived by “Fool’s gold.”
The difficulty is recognizing the differences between one from the other and tossing the imitation.
Graduating journalism students enter various news media venues – newspapers, TV, radio, magazines, podcasting – and spew their academia-indoctrinated ideologies onto an unsuspecting audience. Who, in turn, assume they are receiving factual and truthful information, when, in reality, they probably aren’t.
At least, not a lot of the time.
Harvard University’s recent upheaval over the Israel/Palestine confrontation in the Middle East, and the demotion of its president for fabricating false educational achievements, is demonstrable evidence many institutions of higher learning have dramatically drifted Left.
Not a new trend. The phony news reporting has been going on for quite some time. Way before Donald Trump came along and began referring to it as “fake news.”
Which, it is. Or, maybe some would prefer “less authentic.”
Today’s buzz-words “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” have become the modern collegiate mantra for accepting virtually any wacky socialist-inspired idea into their curriculum.
The goofier it is, the more favorable its endorsement. Remember the COVID conundrum? Practically every day for almost two years we heard government and healthcare officials spouting all sorts of mind-numbing theories and scientific postulations on how to deal with the virus.
Eventually, becoming so asinine that in their zeal to save us from something many couldn’t agree what it was — or how it was caused — they severely damaged our society and economy.
The height of absurdity had to have been when parents were required to sit six feet apart in open-air stadiums to watch their kids play baseball, football, track, and tennis – while also being masked.
Adding to the senselessness, many members of our military and first responders were released if they refused “the jab.” Later, the government reversed that illogical decision and invited troops and sailors back into the service. Many didn’t return.
In lockstep with government decrees, the vast majority of media companies went right along with White House directives, even when Joe, and several members of his staff, became infected. After they had been repeatedly vaxxed and boosted.
So much for the ballyhooed “You won’t get sick if you get vaccinated” malarky.
How ridiculous could it get? I’d never thought I’d witness such colossal stupidity, encouraged by an equally brain-damaged media, presented from the previously respected desk of the Oval Office.
Talk about a monumental opt-in to ignorance moment!
Today, Congress continues to conduct COVID hearings to discuss the integrity of the explanations, the truthfulness of various individuals’ testimony, the veracity of medical and pharmaceutical reports, and the enormous adverse economic impact of the disease.
Nevertheless, the COVID experience exposed a lack of accurate and honest journalistic reporting, with many stories being more opinion than fact.
To gain access to this professional level of ineptitude, it’s amazing why college parents and students saddle themselves with huge amounts of loans; enabling them to enroll in a taxpayer-financed university knowing the product they are turning out is often substandard, conflicts with many family values and traditions, and certainly not worth the costs.
What’s the point?
Because it’s Harvard, or Yale, or MIT, or Stanford, etc. The prestige of having a framed diploma from one of these institutions, and the inside track it can provide to an influential position in private and government employment, is often justification for the money spent.
In reality, the system works for a lot of people. No denying that, but are they acquiring knowledge that will benefit them in life, or merely repeating thoughts and procedures passed from previous participants?
Assisting in maintaining the image, private news and tax-funded public radio and TV organizations – utilizing their 1st Amendment right of free speech and press – frequently promote concepts that are not conducive to an informed society.
The problem is further exacerbated when the discussions become too one-sided, disallowing differing opinions and ideas from being presented.
Which seems to be the theme of Syracuse University’s report. Obviously, 3.4% Republican vs 96.6% Democrat/Other news journalists in the business aren’t an equal representation of American society.
Not even close.
An example of the disparity can be found within the voting differences of many urban and rural communities in the country.
Large metro areas tend to be liberal and vote blue (Democrat), compared to the more conservative rural regions, which are predominately red (Republican).
It’s no surprise most of a state’s universities, big newspapers, and TV stations are located in blue-dominated districts – that’s where a major concentration of people live and work.
Arizona is a perfect example. Only two of the 15 counties – Maricopa (4.5 million people) and Pima (1.1 million people) – contain approximately 75% of the population of the entire state (7.3 million). The remaining 25% is divided among 13 counties of varying sizes and populations.
Therefore, it stands to reason the state’s two largest universities, news organizations, job markets – and votes – are also located within these two counties.
So, how can Graham and Greenlee Counties, with a total population of about 48,500 folks, compete with Maricopa and Pima Counties with over 5.6 million inhabitants?
It ain’t easy. We’re outnumbered 115 to 1. Our state legislative representation is equally lopsided, compared to the multi-districted areas around Phoenix and Tucson – two of the nation’s most rapidly growing locations.
Fortunately, we have a couple of radio stations, a semi-local print newspaper, and two online news outlets to keep us informed.
However, I’m not certain Graham and Greenlee Counties combined local news sources are sufficient to overcome the 96.6% gibberish we’re exposed to hourly from big city liberal mainstream and social media.
Newspaper publication and circulation have substantially diminished within the nation, inflicting additional stress on delivering information to the public.
At the rate of conservative descent in the newsrooms over the last 20 years, it won’t be much longer before the percentage of Republican journalists is nearly zero.
If that day ever arrives, say goodbye to the 1st Amendment and hello to 100% government-sanctioned media. You’ll only be allowed to see, hear, and read what the minions in Washington permit you to see, hear, and read.
Without hesitation, I can almost guarantee certain chapters in American history and the U.S. Constitution will not be on the list of permissible literature offered in public schools, universities, state legislatures, courthouses, or corporate boardrooms.
Woke/Socialist mandates will be the order of the day.
There’s some truth in the Washington Post’s controversial slogan “Democracy dies in darkness.”
This is another way of saying it can also perish from ignorance, apathy, and secret alliances.
The opinions expressed in this editorial are those of the author.
