The alarm has sounded within the media industry over the possibility of Donald Trump reclaiming the presidency and the cascading impacts this could have on media relevancy.
In particular, the heart of the issue centers on the deep apprehension that a Trump victory could spell the end of mainstream media’s influence, as elucidated by recent internal conflicts at The Washington Post and wider industry fears, as reported by Fox News.
Furthermore, according to a New York Magazine article released Wednesday, there is widespread concern among media professionals over the profound changes and challenges that might arise under another term with Donald Trump as President.
Consequently, many in the industry are voicing fears that Trump's governance style could lead to news avoidance, eroded trust, and a more arduous operational environment for media organizations.
At The Washington Post, owner Jeff Bezos triggered upheaval within the establishment by deciding to discontinue the endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris. A critical opinion piece in the paper starkly illustrated this turmoil by slamming Bezos' justification for the decision as “bulls---” and accusing him of appeasing Trump.
Transformations in media dynamics were a significant part of the concerns highlighted. An unnamed network executive in conversation with reporter Charlotte Klein said the potential re-election of Trump could "change everything" for the media landscape. They noted a Trump win could represent "the complete failure of the news industry" as it might confirm a large portion of Americans disregards mainstream narratives.
The executive expanded on their thoughts: "If half the country has decided that Trump is qualified to be president, that means they're not reading any of this media, and we’ve lost this audience completely. A Trump victory means mainstream media is dead in its current form. You’ve got the major disruptions underpinning everything—strategically, platform-wise, consumer technology—no matter what happens in the election. And then if Trump wins, all of a sudden you’ve got this other pressure on everything. There’s brand damage. He undermines trust in the media. It’s just going to add a level of complexity."
These disruptions have led to concerns about the potential strain on resources, increased reporter burnout, and a narrowed scope for covering diverse stories, as the focus would likely shift intensely back to the presidential beat.
Reporters recall the relentless news cycles of Trump’s first term, characterized by late-night tweets that demanded immediate attention and interpretation, often leading to exhaustive reporting efforts that might end up being inconsequential by morning.
One political reporter raised concerns about the limitations on investigative journalism under another Trump administration, questioning whether the media could pursue significant investigations unrelated to his presidency due to resource allocation.
A top editor pondered the strain on journalists, asking whether they could "summon the energy and the shock of the news to cover this thing, or do you need to bring in reinforcements—people for whom it is really brand-new again?"
Despite these challenges, some worry that the incessant focus might lead to consumer fatigue. A reporter mentioned the likelihood of news consumers, even the dedicated ones, tuning out due to the overwhelming “noise” of relentless media coverage.
Media outlets are currently bracing themselves for the intricacies that a presidential election outcome might introduce. Moreover, the concern is not just about the volume of news but also the type of engagement that changes reader dynamics and priorities.
Ultimately, the media industry stands at a crossroads, facing potentially revolutionary changes that would necessitate a shift in how news is reported, consumed, and valued by the public.
The question looming over every media professional's head is whether the established norms can survive a political resurgence that threatens to redefine their roles radically.
