Within my first 5 months of college, America has elected a sexual predator to the presidency, simultaneously elected a homophobe to the vice presidency, and they have in turn appointed a liar to the press secretary position. All three of these men pose some sort of threat to my existence, but the one I’ve been thinking about most is Sean Spicer, Trump’s press secretary. It’s no secret that Trump has a rocky relationship with the media, but I (foolishly) held out hope that his press secretary would help bridge the gap. Unfortunately, Spicer has chosen to play into Trump’s rhetoric of lies and attacks on reporters. As an American citizen, this fascist approach to dealing with the media is concerning, to say the least. As an aspiring member of the White House Press Corps and a freshman journalism major, I feel especially passionately about this rhetoric because it’s going to directly impact my future.
Both Trump’s and Spicer’s press conferences gave me mixed feelings. I’ll never forget the moment Trump said to CNN’s Jim Acosta, “No, not you, you’re fake news.” This press conference was right on the heels of BuzzFeed’s controversial decision to publish an unconfirmed dossier full of allegations about Trump’s relationship with Russia. I was upset with that decision, because it stoked the animosity Trump already felt towards the media, and there was no valid source. However, the shock of him refusing to take a question from a reporter will stay with me long into the future. CNN never published the dossier, so I was confused as to what made Trump call them a “fake news” organization. It has become clear that anything published about Trump that he doesn’t like will be labeled as “fake.” I have already decided that part of my own personal journalistic ethics is the importance of accountability, and going to any lengths needed to uncover the truth. I will always report things as they are, no matter how many times Trump or Spicer or even Kellyanne Conway push lies to the forefront of the national narrative. Spicer insisting that Trump’s inauguration was the most attended in history despite evidence that it was not is baffling and upsetting to me. I will not stand for it, and I will not be silenced. So, at the same time that I am discouraged by the Trump administration’s treatment of journalists, it also motivates me to fight back.
I have had editors at my school’s news website over the past few months who have warned me not to be too “hostile” about Trump, who have reminded me that I’m writing for an “objective” news outlet. But I feel very strongly that the truth should never be sacrificed for the sake of “objectivity.” I am not in the business of being “nice” to Donald Trump if it means lying about what he’s said or done, or censoring myself because people might get angry about what I write. My words are not the problem, Trump’s are. I’m merely the messenger, as it’s my duty as a journalist to inform the masses, no matter how ugly the truth is. Now more than ever, I am invigorated and eager to get courses under my belt. It’s frustrating have to stand by and watch my future be shaped by someone else. It’s infuriating to not be able to add my voice to the conversation, because it still feels like some things are going unsaid. I remember being really disappointed in some of the media in the months before the election, because they were feeding into Trump’s rhetoric, and letting things slide by reporting them as facts. It’s interesting to see how that has shifted now that the media has come under fire from Trump himself.
In recent days, America has rapidly moved closer to a fascist regime in which the media is silenced, and facts are replaced by what the administration wants the people to think. Earlier this week, the Trump administration ordered a media blackout from the Environmental Protection Agency after the Badlands National Park Twitter account began tweeting about climate change. This sparked a resistance from many other National Parks Twitter accounts from around the country, and launched the Scientists’ March on Washington. This online rebellion demonstrates the power of social media, and the power of the people to force the hand of change. I live near the Boston Common, and every day this week I have woken up to the shouts of protestors, which inspires me to get out there and start training for the next four years. While I may not be able to stand in the heat of the action, I will support those who are, and I will be ready should anything like this happen again when it’s my turn.
We are truly stronger together, and I am grateful to those who have come before me, those who are breaking down obstacles so that nothing like this happens to the next generation of journalists. The higher Trump builds the wall between himself and the media, the higher we all jump. Although I am only a student, and can’t really be there to fight, I’m doing my small part in writing articles like this. There’s a revolution happening within the journalism industry, and while I’ve just managed to sneak my foot in the door, I can feel it too.
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