so this is a talk about the media so we’ll talk about Donald Trump but we’ll
we’ll talk about Donald Trump but we’ll
we’ll talk about Donald Trump but we’ll try to have some fun with it on Monday
try to have some fun with it on Monday
try to have some fun with it on Monday at a rally the Republican nominee for
at a rally the Republican nominee for
at a rally the Republican nominee for president of the United States invited
president of the United States invited
president of the United States invited the followers in his crowd to scream at
the followers in his crowd to scream at
the followers in his crowd to scream at the press pool at the media which they
the press pool at the media which they
the press pool at the media which they did for two full minutes because they
did for two full minutes because they
did for two full minutes because they hate the media on Wednesday after
hate the media on Wednesday after
hate the media on Wednesday after Clinton’s emails were leaked Trump said
Clinton’s emails were leaked Trump said
Clinton’s emails were leaked Trump said that the dishonest media didn’t give
that the dishonest media didn’t give
that the dishonest media didn’t give them enough coverage even though they
them enough coverage even though they
them enough coverage even though they were covered everywhere and I’m an
were covered everywhere and I’m an
were covered everywhere and I’m an advocate of the fluidity of language
advocate of the fluidity of language
advocate of the fluidity of language when you’re talking about information
when you’re talking about information
when you’re talking about information and journalists incredible means not
and journalists incredible means not
and journalists incredible means not credible but then it got worse on
credible but then it got worse on
credible but then it got worse on Thursday after sexual assault
Thursday after sexual assault
Thursday after sexual assault allegations when he said that it was all
allegations when he said that it was all
allegations when he said that it was all a conspiracy of the media he verbally
a conspiracy of the media he verbally
a conspiracy of the media he verbally attacked the women who came forward and
attacked the women who came forward and
attacked the women who came forward and there’s no recourse for validating his
there’s no recourse for validating his
there’s no recourse for validating his claims
claims
claims when people have no trust in anything
when people have no trust in anything
when people have no trust in anything that is considered the media and Donald
that is considered the media and Donald
that is considered the media and Donald Trump knows this he operates by
Trump knows this he operates by
Trump knows this he operates by assassinating character by ruining
assassinating character by ruining
assassinating character by ruining reputations and he’s attempting to do
reputations and he’s attempting to do
reputations and he’s attempting to do that now by supplanting trust in an
that now by supplanting trust in an
that now by supplanting trust in an entire system of vetting so as a member
entire system of vetting so as a member
entire system of vetting so as a member of the media in a in the traditional
of the media in a in the traditional
of the media in a in the traditional sense of the word I’m a journalist I’m a
sense of the word I’m a journalist I’m a
sense of the word I’m a journalist I’m a writer and senior editor with the
writer and senior editor with the
writer and senior editor with the Atlantic magazine I see my job as being
Atlantic magazine I see my job as being
Atlantic magazine I see my job as being an independent source for truth in a
an independent source for truth in a
an independent source for truth in a world where many messages are coming
world where many messages are coming
world where many messages are coming from people with financial and political
from people with financial and political
from people with financial and political interests my job is to be apart from
interests my job is to be apart from
interests my job is to be apart from that to create accountability and
that to create accountability and
that to create accountability and transparency to promote honesty and
transparency to promote honesty and
transparency to promote honesty and integrity
integrity
integrity and yet here’s a poll of things that
and yet here’s a poll of things that
and yet here’s a poll of things that people like done last month people love
people like done last month people love
people like done last month people love Canada which is great but they don’t
Canada which is great but they don’t
Canada which is great but they don’t like the news media put another way
like the news media put another way
like the news media put another way among the only things that people
among the only things that people
among the only things that people dislike more than the news media is
dislike more than the news media is
dislike more than the news media is Vladimir Putin and with with dislike
Vladimir Putin and with with dislike
Vladimir Putin and with with dislike though comes distrust and as of
though comes distrust and as of
though comes distrust and as of September 2016 according to Pew more
September 2016 according to Pew more
September 2016 according to Pew more Americans distrust the media right now
Americans distrust the media right now
Americans distrust the media right now than ever before
than ever before
than ever before by a lot and I don’t mean wholeheartedly
by a lot and I don’t mean wholeheartedly
by a lot and I don’t mean wholeheartedly trust every word of the nightly news but
trust every word of the nightly news but
trust every word of the nightly news but have even a fair amount of trust in the
have even a fair amount of trust in the
have even a fair amount of trust in the media and perhaps not surprisingly it is
media and perhaps not surprisingly it is
media and perhaps not surprisingly it is especially marked in discrepancy among
especially marked in discrepancy among
especially marked in discrepancy among Republicans only 33 percent as of last
Republicans only 33 percent as of last
Republicans only 33 percent as of last year had even a fair amount of trust in
year had even a fair amount of trust in
year had even a fair amount of trust in the media and as of last month that
the media and as of last month that
the media and as of last month that dropped to 14% so truly a unique time in
dropped to 14% so truly a unique time in
dropped to 14% so truly a unique time in our history the theme of the day is gaps
our history the theme of the day is gaps
our history the theme of the day is gaps and these numbers represent an enormous
and these numbers represent an enormous
and these numbers represent an enormous gap it’s a gap in understanding a gap
gap it’s a gap in understanding a gap
gap it’s a gap in understanding a gap between a system and people that system
between a system and people that system
between a system and people that system exists to serve and it has fed a gap in
exists to serve and it has fed a gap in
exists to serve and it has fed a gap in political ideologies that’s also wider
political ideologies that’s also wider
political ideologies that’s also wider than it’s been in decades here we are in
than it’s been in decades here we are in
than it’s been in decades here we are in 1994 99 2004 2011 and today and if that
1994 99 2004 2011 and today and if that
1994 99 2004 2011 and today and if that gap persists
gap persists
gap persists if history tells us anything then
if history tells us anything then
if history tells us anything then society deteriorates accordingly so my
society deteriorates accordingly so my
society deteriorates accordingly so my TED idea is we should stop this and I
TED idea is we should stop this and I
TED idea is we should stop this and I have one smaller specific thing to
have one smaller specific thing to
have one smaller specific thing to recommend as far as ideas and in which
recommend as far as ideas and in which
recommend as far as ideas and in which we can actually I think all of us can do
we can actually I think all of us can do
we can actually I think all of us can do a little bit better
a little bit better
a little bit better the press so the press used to be easy
the press so the press used to be easy
the press so the press used to be easy to identify it was people who had access
to identify it was people who had access
to identify it was people who had access to a literal press that was the the
to a literal press that was the the
to a literal press that was the the medium the media of the time and
medium the media of the time and
medium the media of the time and sometimes there was good reason to
sometimes there was good reason to
sometimes there was good reason to distrust the people who controlled those
distrust the people who controlled those
distrust the people who controlled those presses many of them did have specific
presses many of them did have specific
presses many of them did have specific missions to promote certain ideologies
missions to promote certain ideologies
missions to promote certain ideologies not among them was the Atlantic in 1857
not among them was the Atlantic in 1857
not among them was the Atlantic in 1857 we were founded 1862 Pett published
we were founded 1862 Pett published
we were founded 1862 Pett published Battle Hymn of the Republic our specific
Battle Hymn of the Republic our specific
Battle Hymn of the Republic our specific mission from the outset has been to be
mission from the outset has been to be
mission from the outset has been to be of no party or clique that’s that
of no party or clique that’s that
of no party or clique that’s that remains central and extremely important
remains central and extremely important
remains central and extremely important to us today the media on the whole
to us today the media on the whole
to us today the media on the whole though today is certainly not limited to
though today is certainly not limited to
though today is certainly not limited to people who own printing presses nor is
people who own printing presses nor is
people who own printing presses nor is it limited to people doing journalism
it limited to people doing journalism
it limited to people doing journalism people do acts of journalism all the
people do acts of journalism all the
people do acts of journalism all the time without formally identifying as the
time without formally identifying as the
time without formally identifying as the media and I’d argue that most of you are
media and I’d argue that most of you are
media and I’d argue that most of you are now part of it not just by what you
now part of it not just by what you
now part of it not just by what you write but what you share and what you
write but what you share and what you
write but what you share and what you send and what you post becomes the
send and what you post becomes the
send and what you post becomes the message that other people receive so my
message that other people receive so my
message that other people receive so my TED idea is that we stop saying the
TED idea is that we stop saying the
TED idea is that we stop saying the media not just in a derogatory way or in
media not just in a derogatory way or in
media not just in a derogatory way or in an analytical way or in an agile Tory
an analytical way or in an agile Tory
an analytical way or in an agile Tory way but but stop altogether because you
way but but stop altogether because you
way but but stop altogether because you can’t accurately talk about the media
can’t accurately talk about the media
can’t accurately talk about the media anymore than you can talk about the
anymore than you can talk about the
anymore than you can talk about the politicians or the sports do you guys
politicians or the sports do you guys
politicians or the sports do you guys like the sports
i watch them sometimes and this isn’t
i watch them sometimes and this isn’t just a semantic quibble because the
just a semantic quibble because the
just a semantic quibble because the concept of the media is being used to
concept of the media is being used to
concept of the media is being used to draw people away from facts and truth so
draw people away from facts and truth so
draw people away from facts and truth so Trump didn’t pay his taxes you can’t
Trump didn’t pay his taxes you can’t
Trump didn’t pay his taxes you can’t trust the media Hillary Clinton doesn’t
trust the media Hillary Clinton doesn’t
trust the media Hillary Clinton doesn’t want to repeal the Second Amendment you
want to repeal the Second Amendment you
want to repeal the Second Amendment you can’t trust the media and Trump depicts
can’t trust the media and Trump depicts
can’t trust the media and Trump depicts this as a crusade we’re taking on big
this as a crusade we’re taking on big
this as a crusade we’re taking on big media and it is not pleasant I have
media and it is not pleasant I have
media and it is not pleasant I have never ever in my life received stories
never ever in my life received stories
never ever in my life received stories like I’m like I received now but I’m
like I’m like I received now but I’m
like I’m like I received now but I’m doing it for everybody I’m doing it for
doing it for everybody I’m doing it for
doing it for everybody I’m doing it for you I’m altering my voice but I’m it’s
you I’m altering my voice but I’m it’s
you I’m altering my voice but I’m it’s not an impression my man rush limbaugh
not an impression my man rush limbaugh
not an impression my man rush limbaugh this is this is from his website this is
I’m gonna take this over to the art
I’m gonna take this over to the art theory people for analysis later but he
theory people for analysis later but he
theory people for analysis later but he said it’s fair to say he’s on a crusade
said it’s fair to say he’s on a crusade
said it’s fair to say he’s on a crusade as well why shouldn’t conservative
as well why shouldn’t conservative
as well why shouldn’t conservative Republicans have immense distrust in the
Republicans have immense distrust in the
Republicans have immense distrust in the media because it isn’t media it’s just
media because it isn’t media it’s just
media because it isn’t media it’s just an extension of the radical left the
an extension of the radical left the
an extension of the radical left the Democrat Party is all it is and then
Democrat Party is all it is and then
Democrat Party is all it is and then maybe my favorite Sean Hannity my
maybe my favorite Sean Hannity my
maybe my favorite Sean Hannity my overpaid friends in the media well they
overpaid friends in the media well they
overpaid friends in the media well they have their chauffeur-driven limousines
have their chauffeur-driven limousines
have their chauffeur-driven limousines as opposed to people who drive their own
as opposed to people who drive their own
as opposed to people who drive their own limousines
they like they’re fine steakhouses and
they like they’re fine steakhouses and their expensive wine lifestyles
their expensive wine lifestyles
their expensive wine lifestyles none of them are feeling this the people
none of them are feeling this the people
none of them are feeling this the people you’re watching on TV and therein lies
you’re watching on TV and therein lies
you’re watching on TV and therein lies the contempt of course Hannity is on TV
the contempt of course Hannity is on TV
the contempt of course Hannity is on TV he’s one of the people on TV his salary
he’s one of the people on TV his salary
he’s one of the people on TV his salary last year was twenty six million dollars
last year was twenty six million dollars
last year was twenty six million dollars the average reporter makes thirty six
the average reporter makes thirty six
the average reporter makes thirty six thousand three hundred and sixty dollars
thousand three hundred and sixty dollars
thousand three hundred and sixty dollars but this outsider ethos is how Fox News
but this outsider ethos is how Fox News
but this outsider ethos is how Fox News built its fan base and by any
built its fan base and by any
built its fan base and by any traditional understanding of the media
traditional understanding of the media
traditional understanding of the media Fox News is the largest purveyor of
Fox News is the largest purveyor of
Fox News is the largest purveyor of media they are the very outlet that
media they are the very outlet that
media they are the very outlet that encourages people not to trust the media
encourages people not to trust the media
encourages people not to trust the media and you know that what they’re doing is
and you know that what they’re doing is
and you know that what they’re doing is not journalism based on the longtime
not journalism based on the longtime
not journalism based on the longtime motto fair and balanced which is itself
motto fair and balanced which is itself
motto fair and balanced which is itself extremely misleading fairness is the
extremely misleading fairness is the
extremely misleading fairness is the crux of journalism it’s what you look
crux of journalism it’s what you look
crux of journalism it’s what you look for in a good journalism journalist
for in a good journalism journalist
for in a good journalism journalist balance though is a huge part of the
balance though is a huge part of the
balance though is a huge part of the problem of why people distrust media is
problem of why people distrust media is
problem of why people distrust media is misunderstanding balance so for an
misunderstanding balance so for an
misunderstanding balance so for an example lead poisoning in Flint Michigan
example lead poisoning in Flint Michigan
example lead poisoning in Flint Michigan that was widely depicted as a quite
that was widely depicted as a quite
that was widely depicted as a quite negative event you did not hear balance
negative event you did not hear balance
negative event you did not hear balance stories with some people saying that no
stories with some people saying that no
stories with some people saying that no public officials should be held
public officials should be held
public officials should be held accountable that there was a positive
accountable that there was a positive
accountable that there was a positive spin on this simply bad across the board
spin on this simply bad across the board
spin on this simply bad across the board not balance but entirely accurate there
not balance but entirely accurate there
not balance but entirely accurate there are people who believe that the moon
are people who believe that the moon
are people who believe that the moon landing was faked and they don’t get a
landing was faked and they don’t get a
landing was faked and they don’t get a lot of attention in the press but you
lot of attention in the press but you
lot of attention in the press but you could say that we’re being imbalanced by
could say that we’re being imbalanced by
could say that we’re being imbalanced by not giving them a voice it’s not a media
not giving them a voice it’s not a media
not giving them a voice it’s not a media conspiracy climate change being balanced
conspiracy climate change being balanced
conspiracy climate change being balanced would mean giving climate change deniers
would mean giving climate change deniers
would mean giving climate change deniers and scientists an equal footing in a
and scientists an equal footing in a
and scientists an equal footing in a story so at what point can you say look
story so at what point can you say look
story so at what point can you say look our greenhouse gases
our greenhouse gases
our greenhouse gases are warming the planet and melting
are warming the planet and melting
are warming the planet and melting glaciers and rise raising sea levels and
glaciers and rise raising sea levels and
glaciers and rise raising sea levels and you’re not accused of media bias
you’re not accused of media bias
you’re not accused of media bias fairness on the other hand means that
fairness on the other hand means that
fairness on the other hand means that saying climate change deniers are not
saying climate change deniers are not
saying climate change deniers are not ugly you don’t say that even if they are
so what is the media if Rush Limbaugh
so what is the media if Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity and Ann Coulter and
and Sean Hannity and Ann Coulter and
and Sean Hannity and Ann Coulter and Bill O’Reilly are not the media than
Bill O’Reilly are not the media than
Bill O’Reilly are not the media than what is is it defined by the identity of
what is is it defined by the identity of
what is is it defined by the identity of the author the creator do you need to be
the author the creator do you need to be
the author the creator do you need to be a full-time employer of a media company
a full-time employer of a media company
a full-time employer of a media company or is anyone who writes an occasional
or is anyone who writes an occasional
or is anyone who writes an occasional article or book part of the media is
article or book part of the media is
article or book part of the media is defined by the publisher what even is a
defined by the publisher what even is a
defined by the publisher what even is a media company anymore as everybody is
media company anymore as everybody is
media company anymore as everybody is making content for the internet
making content for the internet
making content for the internet traditional journalistic establishments
traditional journalistic establishments
traditional journalistic establishments have transformed from print into
have transformed from print into
have transformed from print into websites largely and now they’re moving
websites largely and now they’re moving
websites largely and now they’re moving onto platforms where everyone else is
onto platforms where everyone else is
onto platforms where everyone else is going to YouTube medium Facebook in
going to YouTube medium Facebook in
going to YouTube medium Facebook in those same places news is being broken
those same places news is being broken
those same places news is being broken by non journalists and journalists post
by non journalists and journalists post
by non journalists and journalists post non journalistic personal things and
non journalistic personal things and
non journalistic personal things and commentators post things that are
commentators post things that are
commentators post things that are supposed to look like journalism but
supposed to look like journalism but
supposed to look like journalism but aren’t and everybody else is in those
aren’t and everybody else is in those
aren’t and everybody else is in those exact same places alongside journalists
exact same places alongside journalists
exact same places alongside journalists more and more people write things that
more and more people write things that
more and more people write things that appear online anywhere even if only on
appear online anywhere even if only on
appear online anywhere even if only on tumblr tumblr or Twitter social
tumblr tumblr or Twitter social
tumblr tumblr or Twitter social platforms have billions of users and
platforms have billions of users and
platforms have billions of users and posts and post by non journalists spread
posts and post by non journalists spread
posts and post by non journalists spread all over every day and it culminates
all over every day and it culminates
all over every day and it culminates with the bacon-wrapped grilled cheese
with the bacon-wrapped grilled cheese
with the bacon-wrapped grilled cheese sandwich which has a hundred and four
sandwich which has a hundred and four
sandwich which has a hundred and four million views on Facebook
that’s more people than watch The
that’s more people than watch The Beatles on Sullivan and the Beatles were
Beatles on Sullivan and the Beatles were
Beatles on Sullivan and the Beatles were bigger than Jesus
bigger than Jesus
bigger than Jesus so the grilled cheese sandwich the new
so the grilled cheese sandwich the new
so the grilled cheese sandwich the new media the platforms are in some ways the
media the platforms are in some ways the
media the platforms are in some ways the new religion the First Amendment
new religion the First Amendment
new religion the First Amendment established the freedom of press as the
established the freedom of press as the
established the freedom of press as the premium as the printing press died in
premium as the printing press died in
premium as the printing press died in many ways the idea of the press dies but
many ways the idea of the press dies but
many ways the idea of the press dies but the mediums have been democratized
the mediums have been democratized
the mediums have been democratized there’s no media no monolithic
there’s no media no monolithic
there’s no media no monolithic establishment that defines the media
establishment that defines the media
establishment that defines the media it’s in our interest to stop saying it
it’s in our interest to stop saying it
it’s in our interest to stop saying it if there is a the media it’s a system
if there is a the media it’s a system
if there is a the media it’s a system perpetuated by people who follow
perpetuated by people who follow
perpetuated by people who follow journalistic ethics people who are fair
journalistic ethics people who are fair
journalistic ethics people who are fair people who are trustworthy people who do
people who are trustworthy people who do
people who are trustworthy people who do not slander who are not beholden to any
not slander who are not beholden to any
not slander who are not beholden to any particular interest but seek
particular interest but seek
particular interest but seek transparency to highlight injustice and
transparency to highlight injustice and
transparency to highlight injustice and to hold people in power accountable
to hold people in power accountable
to hold people in power accountable journalism is a profession defined by a
journalism is a profession defined by a
journalism is a profession defined by a code of ethics that can be adopted by
code of ethics that can be adopted by
code of ethics that can be adopted by anyone just think of all the police
anyone just think of all the police
anyone just think of all the police violence that’s come to light because
violence that’s come to light because
violence that’s come to light because people carry cameras in their pockets
people carry cameras in their pockets
people carry cameras in their pockets now Free Press is a system designed to
now Free Press is a system designed to
now Free Press is a system designed to keep people in power in check and no one
keep people in power in check and no one
keep people in power in check and no one is more empowered than our government
is more empowered than our government
is more empowered than our government than our elected officials and our
than our elected officials and our
than our elected officials and our people seeking public office elected
people seeking public office elected
people seeking public office elected official officials shouldn’t be allowed
official officials shouldn’t be allowed
official officials shouldn’t be allowed to limit free press or to supplant trust
to limit free press or to supplant trust
to limit free press or to supplant trust in that system and it’s a dangerous
in that system and it’s a dangerous
in that system and it’s a dangerous precedent to allow them to do that power
precedent to allow them to do that power
precedent to allow them to do that power goes unchecked or abused corruption is
goes unchecked or abused corruption is
goes unchecked or abused corruption is unexposed and character is unvetted so
unexposed and character is unvetted so
unexposed and character is unvetted so if we stop enabling conspiracy theories
if we stop enabling conspiracy theories
if we stop enabling conspiracy theories but I stopping referring to the media as
but I stopping referring to the media as
but I stopping referring to the media as a monolithic establishment at all we
a monolithic establishment at all we
a monolithic establishment at all we could begin to make some progress that’s
could begin to make some progress that’s
could begin to make some progress that’s slowing the divide minding the gap so
slowing the divide minding the gap so
slowing the divide minding the gap so don’t speak of the media unless you
don’t speak of the media unless you
don’t speak of the media unless you speak of a system a system where
speak of a system a system where
speak of a system a system where journalists convey truth and if you do
journalists convey truth and if you do
journalists convey truth and if you do to say that you distrust it is too
to say that you distrust it is too
to say that you distrust it is too you distrust transparency I think that
you distrust transparency I think that
you distrust transparency I think that this system is our hope for reuniting a
this system is our hope for reuniting a
this system is our hope for reuniting a fractured society if there’s anyone you
fractured society if there’s anyone you
fractured society if there’s anyone you categorically should not trust it’s
categorically should not trust it’s
categorically should not trust it’s people who say that you should not trust
people who say that you should not trust
people who say that you should not trust the media stop saying the media I
the media stop saying the media I
the media stop saying the media I realize I’ve said it
realize I’ve said it
realize I’ve said it 36 times in the course of these 10
36 times in the course of these 10
36 times in the course of these 10 minutes but I’m done now thank you
you
you [Music]
”
Be First to Comment