Media is scared to appear hysterical by calling out Trump's danger to the U.S.: writer - Raw Story
https://www.rawstory.com/media-fears-trump-democracy-threats/
Totally get it. It is a real downer to write the words "fascist autocracy." It turns people off. It is a sure way to not get boosts or likes on social media. Nobody wants to contemplate what living in a Trumpian fascist state that would really be like.
@mastodonmigration @knittingknots2
Which seems to be the problem,
@mastodonmigration @knittingknots2
People seem to be in denial, and esp big tech who don't want to admit there is a problem that their platforms are being exploited to help spread the messages of hate. Musk is a good example of someone who would rather sue you for calling out a legitimate issue as admiting it, means it has to be dealt with.
Saying that, surely a well educated, rational person with decent values would see what is happening and stand up to it even if it feels doing so is a waste of time.
Does this problem not also extend further? Tools that allow a face to be extracted and superimposed on to a nude image in such a way it can be difficult to tell it has been manipulated. Again hugee issue, and esp for the victims. But no one seems to know how to deal with it.
The regulators are also a total waste of space, as they have the powers to act but either cannot do so, or are not backed up by the courts or other parties needed to enforce.
All good points. It's all pretty overwhelming and things are moving fast. We crave normalcy and simplicity so the media softens it up, and comforts because that's what sells.
@mastodonmigration @knittingknots2
Yes, standards have dropped and with AI writing things for us, we will lose our ability to think, about what we are writing, be critical, research and redraft.
I think maybe part of the issue is deadlines and the expectation a story will be updated every second, whereas before we had a newspaper reporting an event, then updates the next issue, (usually late or next day edition).
More good points. Journalism is in crisis. It needs to figure out its purpose. Whether to entertain and pander or to convey the truth. And telling the truth is really hard, when nobody wants to hear it.
@mastodonmigration
@knittingknots2
Agreed with that, similar to the climate crisis. In fact there was a question on here some time ago, asking if we should tell the truth that we either act now or face oblivion or we should try and water down the issue as if it is not that serious.
My response was that I prefer the former option, painful to be told the truth about the environment, but it HAS to be done sometimes.
Similar to trying to find alternatives to products made from oil, some are harder to make through other methods, if we have give them up too then in some cases, so be it. If we have to go back to glass bottles to replace plastic again so be it.
@mastodonmigration @zleap @knittingknots2
It's the for-profit media, saving democracy isn't their job, profits are, keeping their jobs in for-profit companies is.
Saving democracy is our job. We've succeeded doing so in 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2023. Now we need to do it again in 2024.
Sure, we should bark at the press to do better, but mostly we need to focus on growing our pro-democracy coalition.
@zleap @knittingknots2
Definitely seems like a pretty big problem. Not sure what journalists view their job as anymore. Seems like it is getting clicks, boosts and likes. So saying things like "fascist autocracy" is really counterproductive.