Journalists at Fanshawe College are concerned and unsure about the future of journalism in politics because of the recent spat between U.S. President Donald Trump and American news media.
The uncertainty comes in the aftermath of President Trump banning CNN, MSNBC, and Politico from the White House, accusing them of being “fake news”. In retaliation, several news outlets have either boycotted the White House’s press releases or have declined to collect audio from Trump as he speaks.
“This has been taken to a whole different level,” said Steve Young, the former news and information director at CTV News London and current program coordinator of Fanshawe’s multimedia journalism program. He also said he was unsurprised that the journalistic community was acting in support of the banned publications.
A collection of logos for London-based news outlets. Journalists in the city believe their profession’s community would support each other if they and politicians became at odds like in the U.S.
Photo by: Curtis Stokman
“It is very important from a journalistic standpoint that we all stand up and say ‘we have a right to be able to hold politicians accountable,'” said Young. “You don’t know if their media organization might be the next one to be banned from the White House.”
The concerns extend to those entering the journalistic community as well. When asked, several students in the multimedia journalism program shared many of the same feelings on the situation between President Trump and U.S. news media.
“I feel like he’s forcing other companies to have one opinion and one opinion only,” said Owen Schuller. “The whole point of a journalist is to be [unopinionated] and to have just the facts right.”
Fellow student Georgia Chambers echoed Schuller’s concerns about President Trump’s relationship with news media, saying she feels he is “a little bit scared of the media” and that she believes it to be the reason for his actions.
Another concern raised was how the situation might change the relationship between politicians and journalists, who are traditionally referred to in politics as the “fourth estate”.
“I do think it’s going to create a big rift in the media and political landscape going forward,” said Ryan Baynton, another student in the journalism program.
The impact of the situation may not be limited to the U.S. Schuller, Chambers, and Baynton each expressed concern that a shift in how journalists deal with politics could affect their careers.
Young also commented on the possibility of politician/journalist relationships in Canada changing because of the situation, saying he hopes they will not. Him and Baynton both believe if it did happen though, the journalistic community would respond the same way it has to President Trump.
“We have to have that ability to be able to [hold politicians accountable] on this side of the border,” said Young.
As for what will happen next, Young believes that journalists will continue to be a part of politics, and that the banned outlets will get access to President Trump by going to other locations or by taking the bans to court to try to have them lifted.
“It will be very interesting to see how this ends,” said Young. “How that will happen is anybody’s guess.”
