Even though the presidential election is still about six months away, people in the “mainstream media” are already ramping up their attacks on President Trump in the hope that the GOP official will spend only one term in the White House.
One of the most recent slams came from Andy Lack, the chairman of NBC News and the MSNBC cable channel, who claimed in a column on Tuesday that he and his fellow journalists are “winning” the ongoing war with Trump, who put the “bully” in “bully pulpit.”
In an article posted on the NBC Think website, Lack claimed:
Journalism is under attack from [the] coronavirus and the White House. But we're winning.
At this dark hour, Americans are scared. They're hungry for accurate information and the unvarnished truth. Now, and in all the days to come, journalists will be there.
This is an interesting take considering Lack and his fellow executives squashed Ronan Farrow’s investigation into Harvey Weinstein, not to mention how they let Matt Lauer’s abuses fester for years. Now NBC is sitting on the sex-assault allegations against Joe Biden. Andy Lack doesn't have a great track record on stopping bullies.
Lack continued:
In the last decade, the ugliest and most cunning threat to journalism comes from leaders in different parts of the world increasingly questioning not just the veracity of what is being reported, which isn't new, but the integrity of those who report it, which is. Some leaders have gone further and egged on their supporters to target and harass anyone they don't approve of in the media.
President Donald Trump came into office railing against many of the foundations of our democratic institutions, including a free press. Forty months into his administration, coverage of the coronavirus outbreak is the latest sign that — contrary to conventional wisdom — he hasn't laid a glove on serious journalism.
"Serious journalism?" Not always. Sister Toldjah at RedState focused on NBC's ersatz news on Russiagate.
“Forty months into his administration, coverage of the coronavirus outbreak is the latest sign” that the President “hasn’t shaken the soul of the First Amendment,” Lack asserted. “Reporters have been on this story from the start, tracking the spread of the coronavirus without fear or favor,” he said.
Despite these challenges, what has become powerfully clear during this pandemic is that the heart of journalism has never been stronger. As ever, journalists are asking tough questions and going where the facts lead. Not looking to win any popularity contests — just doing what Woodward and Bernstein inspired my generation and the generations that followed to always do: seek the best obtainable version of the truth.
Oh yes, NBC News is always boldly asking the tough questions of our leaders, holding them accountable. Actually, eight years ago, this is what NewsBusters had on NBC News: "NBC's 'Today' Spends More Than 11 Minutes Fawning Over Obama Late Night Comedy and College Tour." Matt Lauer was gushing over how President Obama "slow-jammed the news" on NBC's Jimmy Fallon show. He "gave our colleague Brian Williams a run for his money."
Andy Lack puts Brian "Best Obtainable Version of the Truth" Williams on MSNBC for an hour each weeknight.
