A Gallup survey last week stated the obvious: Americans no longer trust the media. As a matter of fact, distrust in the media is soaring to new heights. “Americans’ distrust in the media hit a new high this year, with 60% saying they have little or no trust in the mass media to report the news fully, accurately, and fairly.” Gallup’s Lymari Morales said. “Distrust is up from the past few years, when Americans were already more negative about the media than they had been in years prior to 2004.” Morales continues further, “Independents are sharply more negative compared with 2008, suggesting the group that is most closely divided between President Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney is quite dissatisfied with its ability to get fair and accurate news coverage of this election.”
In spite of the public outcry, most media operations don’t seem to see the value in making sure both sides of the political spectrum get equal billing. Every other industry responds to market forces — however reluctant they may be to do so (e.g. the music industry). But for whatever reason, the traditional news media would rather die than acknowledge their shrinking audience is tuning them out.
Enter Joey Kennedy, the Birmingham News’ Pulitzer Prize winning editorial writer who later this month will become their Community Engagement Specialist (huh?):
I’m a “community engagement specialist.” I’m going to be engaging you after Sept. 30. How do you want to be engaged?
— Joey Kennedy (@joeykennedy) September 22, 2012
Digital media is obviously playing a huge role in the decline of tradition media, and many news organizations are playing catch-up. But Kennedy’s really excited about the News’ new digital effort…
Alabama Media Group is going to rock. We’re going to make journalism new in Alabama. Can;t wait.
— Joey Kennedy (@joeykennedy) September 22, 2012
“Make journalism new…” What exactly does he mean by that? I’m fairly certain he means they’re trying new ways to deliver their content. Great — that’s a step in the right direction. But what if that’s not the only issue? Better yet, what if that’s not even the primary issue to consider when addressing a collapse in readership? Has it not occurred to anyone that the problem may be the actual content, not just the method of delivery?
Let’s start with immigration. Roughly 3/4 of Alabamians are in favor of Alabama’s immigration law. Mr. Kennedy certainly does not count himself among the ignorant, racist 75%. “It’s all the worst of Alabama stereotypes. It’s a cruel law… It’s impossible to comprehend… It’s like dropping an atomic bomb on a quonset hut.” Kennedy explains in the video below. And if you’ve read any of Kennedy’s pieces in the News, you know that’s the position he takes over and over and over and over and over… I could go on and on, the links are endless.
If you ran a sandwich shop, how long could you stay open if you called 3 out of every 4 people who walked in the door a cruel, ignorant bigot?
But immigration is far from the only issue Kennedy splits with the vast majority of Alabamians on. He breaks with 60+% of Alabamians and makes it well known that he’s in the tank for President Obama as well…
Romney campaign is everywhere. Doesn’t matter what the truth is. They make their own truth. Sickening.
— Joey Kennedy (@joeykennedy) September 22, 2012
Twitter haiku: Romney hates half ofUs, and we’re supposed to thinkThat’s OK, Uh-uh. #twitterhaiku
— Joey Kennedy (@joeykennedy) September 20, 2012
…and throws in a quick shot at Romney’s religion while he’s at it. It’s not bigoted though, of course.
There’s only one reason ordinary people support Romney and we know what that is: Magic underwear.
— Joey Kennedy (@joeykennedy) September 20, 2012
Then he flips into full MSNBC-mode and takes on voter ID laws that are — again — supported by the vast majority of his readers. He also couldn’t resist taking a shot at the Republican Party while he’s at it…
Twitter haiku: Voter ID sucks.People can’t vote, no reason.But Repubs like that. #twitterhaiku
— Joey Kennedy (@joeykennedy) September 21, 2012
Republicans know they can’t win fair and square, so they suppress the vote with Voter ID, voter roll purges. Shame. Shame. Shame.
— Joey Kennedy (@joeykennedy) September 21, 2012
Then he pulls a Craig Ford and calls out southern white males — who also incidentally happen to make up a good chunk of his readership…
This election is all about the angry white male’s last shout: The South will rise again … pleeaaassseee!
— Joey Kennedy (@joeykennedy) September 21, 2012
He even somehow manages to find a way to fit global warming junk science into his Twitter conversation…
It’s about climate change and Dr. McClintocks adventures in Antarctica. Great stuff!
— Joey Kennedy (@joeykennedy) September 22, 2012
And to close it all out — as if on cue — Kennedy showcases the type of arrogant confusion that has come to define the newspaper industry’s denial over their loss of readership:
So, I’m losing followers. Is that the twitter haikus? Or the anti-Romney posts? Or what?
— Joey Kennedy (@joeykennedy) September 21, 2012
I mean seriously. I’ve lost four followers. is it the Romney slams or the haikus?
— Joey Kennedy (@joeykennedy) September 21, 2012
If it’s the haikus, here’s one:Twitter haiku: Romney is a joke,But not one we laugh at much.No. This one we cry. #twitterhaiku
— Joey Kennedy (@joeykennedy) September 21, 2012
With all of this on display, it’s no wonder Gallup’s Morales concludes “Republicans…express the least trust in the media, while Democrats express the most.” And at the News, there is not a single voice on the right to temper Kennedy’s far left-wing rants. Not one. Until the Birmingham News and other outlets suck it up and give conservatives a seat at the Editorial Board table, they will continue being active participants in the death spiral of American journalism.
Bottom line:
Birmingham News: give us a CONSERVATIVE voice who’s just as opinionated and obnoxious as Joey Kennedy. All we want is ONE.
