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Understanding the Erosion of Trust in Legacy Media
In a recent conversation, Axios co-founder and CEO Jim VandeHei highlighted the troubling decline of public trust in legacy media. During an appearance on Bari Weiss’s podcast, VandeHei, alongside co-founder Mike Allen, examined how mainstream media has contributed to this erosion over the past decade.
Three Phases of Distrust
VandeHei outlined three critical phases he believes have led to the widespread loss of confidence. The first phase involves the rise of social media, particularly Twitter, which he examined closely. He noted that while many now perceive Twitter as a platform dominated by conservative voices, it previously thrived as a space for liberal groupthink. VandeHei expressed concern over how certain reporters displayed their biases through their social media activity.
“What happened with Twitter is – people forget now [since] it’s a lot of conservative voices, a lot of independent voices – it was a hotbed of liberal groupthink for a long time,” he explained. “And it was the first time since I’ve been in this business that I would get on a feed and I would see reporters who I had trusted, who I admired, making it crystal clear what side they were on. You could tell in what they were tweeting, and you could tell in who they were following and who was following them.”
The Impact of Major Events
The second phase VandeHei mentioned revolves around the media coverage of significant societal events, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the Defund the Police movement. VandeHei noted that many Americans were left unsettled by the way these issues were portrayed in the media.
“Then came along, kind of, the COVID, Defund the Police, word policing, where I think a lot of Americans were looking around going ‘that doesn’t sit right with me,’” he continued. “And the way it’s being covered didn’t sit right with them.”
The Final Straw
According to VandeHei, the portrayal of President Biden’s mental health marked the final phase in this decline of trust. He shared that many viewers felt a disconnect between their observations and the media’s presentation of Biden’s capabilities.
“People were saying, ‘I can see with my own two eyes that the guy seems pretty old, probably doesn’t seem capable of being the president in the next term and yet there’s not a whole hell of a lot of coverage of it,’” VandeHei remarked, emphasizing the disconnect between public perception and media narratives.
Defending Journalism’s Integrity
Despite his criticisms, VandeHei refrained from dismissing journalism as a whole. He pointed to Axios reporter Alex Thompson, commending his consistent coverage of Biden’s age concerns even as it deviated from prevailing media narratives. VandeHei suggested that the issues within journalism could stem from “a couple of bad apples” rather than an entire industry failure.
“It breaks my heart,” VandeHei reflected. “I hate that. I love journalism. I am a fierce defender of journalism. I believe that most reporters at most institutions actually do try to get to the closest approximation of the truth and achieve it most of the time. I think it’s a couple of bad apples who make it look bad for everyone.”
Media Challenges and Future Prospects
In previous interviews, VandeHei has stressed that the liberal media faces an unprecedented decline. He described this current landscape as possibly the weakest he has seen in his lifetime. As the media continues to evolve, addressing these failures will be critical for restoring public trust.
The Path Forward
Moving forward, it is essential for media organizations to recognize the impact of their coverage on public perception. VandeHei’s insights serve as a reminder that transparency and accountability must remain at the forefront of journalistic practices.
In this challenging environment, engaging with the audience and understanding their concerns becomes paramount. The media must adapt to the changing landscape while maintaining its commitment to factual reporting. Restoring faith in journalism will require both introspection and a willingness to change approaches.
As discussions around media integrity continue, the calls for humility and reflection within the profession might pave the way towards rebuilding trust with the public.
