Media Filters

It is not just the US media ... the problem is mostly global. The media by its name and nature has enjoyed an unique place in between our government and its public. As the filter of what is said and done, it has long enjoyed leverage on public opinion ... not always unbiased purchase. In fact, since our country's inception, the media has had increasing and often unfortunate influence on the path and pace of history.

Enter new media technologies. FDR realized the ability of the radio to cut through this media filter and go directly to the American people with his Fireside Chats. Ditto JFK in his use of television and his live press conferences. Enter the social media which Donald Trump has used as a candidate and is now using as president to take his message directly to the American people and they generally love it.

Who doesn't love it? Why the main-stream media of course. This media, the print media, radio and television, have learned how to re-insert themselves between government and the voters with various "traditions" ... such as how interviews and news conferences are held. To his credit, Trump even refuses to bend to these protocols and, consequentially, has these media filters in hysterics. And remember "fake news" was an invention of the left ... much to its regret.

How is the media fighting back ... desperate to reclaim the high ground? For one, they are scouring their Roget's Thesauri for pejoratives to smear Trump and his way of communication. They also claim that he is trying to kill the First Amendment. Also, as Trump is unfiltered, he does make mistakes and, being an egomaniac, tends toward hyperbole. Thus, the media constantly tries to keep him off balance with oft-justified criticism clapping these flubs as LIES. But Trump has even an answer to these brickbats ... by ignoring them or twittering them away.

I have no doubt that the media will eventually find ways to stifle Trump's megaphones with a new ways of filtering him ... perhaps with some new social-media technologies which limit his stentorian reach. Watch for it.