The Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza has some bad news to report:
Trust in the media is at an all-time low. That's a terrible thing for all of us. http://t.co/wnRbJOhv0x pic.twitter.com/Zl7Sv7ha3Y
— Chris Cillizza (@TheFix) September 28, 2015
Who’s “us,” Kemo Sabe?
"all of us" people? Or "all of us" media? https://t.co/0xLFdJShAX
— Political Math (@politicalmath) September 28, 2015
.@TheFix what "us" are you referring to?https://t.co/F57npduCnl
— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) September 28, 2015
We’ll concede that it sucks, Chris. But who’s fault is it?
Lol. You don't say? @TheFix
— Beef Supreme (@TorchOWyatt) September 28, 2015
@TheFix What on earth could have caused that?
— Joel Engel (@joelengel) September 28, 2015
Gee… I wonder who may have largely contributed to that perception in his own very unique way.
https://t.co/oui9tlz5IF— ⚓️ Cody Kessler ⚓️ (@cody_k) September 28, 2015
For anyone out there who may be inclined to suggest that the media themselves have something to do with the public losing trust in them, Cillizza would like to correct the record:
To which I say: Wrong.
I don’t say that to be a jerk. I understand that many people who feel passionately about the rightness of one party or the other (and plenty of people who don’t) are simply convinced that the media is pursuing some sort of narrative that somehow furthers our collective “goals.” (If you were in the media, you would know we aren’t even close to organized enough to orchestrate such a grand plan. But, I digress.) And, I will grant that, like in any industry, there are some bad apples and some high profile mistakes that people seize on as evidence that their pet theory of the media (too liberal/ too conservative) is right.
But, I believe really strongly that the decline in trust in the media is primarily attributable to partisans — whether in politics or in the media — who have a vested interest in casting the press as hopelessly biased. What better way for liberal or conservative talk radio to (a) lure listeners and (b) stoke outrage than to insist that the mainstream media is lying to you? What better way for politicians to raise money from partisans already skeptical about the media than to say the media isn’t telling the truth?
C’mon, man. Seriously? Even Oliver Willis isn’t buying what you’re selling:
wapo's @thefix won't take any critique of his work seriously, then blames partisans for decline in media trust. naturally.
— Oliver Willis (@owillis) September 28, 2015
Instead of whining about “partisans,” Chris, maybe you should take a long, hard look in the mirror.
@TheFix No wonder. Media has become laughably one-sided partisan hacks while loudly proclaiming some musty fiction about being objective.
— Farbrook (@dutchindian) September 28, 2015
@TheFix Trust was killed? Meh, just a "local crime story," Chris.
— MICHAEL SCHNEIDER (@vonbismark) September 28, 2015
Remember that one, Chris?
@TheFix The terrible thing is that this is a problem entirely of the media's own making…
— Gonzalo Vergara (@GlenSalo) September 28, 2015
https://twitter.com/TexasBaybay/status/648602290127933440
Yep.
@TheFix Seems like it could be turned into a whatchacallit, one of them "opportunities for improvement." See your fact check on Carly.
— Jim (@Ifitsthisname) September 28, 2015
That’d be a good start.
Hey, here’s a thought:
Hey, maybe if you guys weren't so blatantly biased towards Democrats you'd gain more respect and trust? Maybe? https://t.co/Bna96I4nXn
— RBe (@RBPundit) September 28, 2015
@TheFix You’re in the media, right? Maybe you guys should quit being partisan hacks.
— Dennis Walker (@DennisWalkerJr) September 28, 2015
@TheFix doctor, heal thyself.
— Mysterion (@PornPops69) September 28, 2015