Trump urged to respect media freedom
President-elect Donald Trump is known to dislike the media. He has called journalists “enemy of the people” and in his victory speech he talked about the media as “the enemy camp”. Media freedom organisations have now in statements shown they are worried about what will happen in a couple of months when Trump is in the oval office.
“His election to a second term in office marks a dangerous moment for American journalism and global press freedom”, says Reporters without borders (RSF).
The Committee to protect journalists (CPJ) says that “at this pivotal moment in US history, we urge the next administration and decision makers across government and business to recognise the free press and the factual information that journalists provide as an essential component of democracy, stability, and public safety.”
“On the campaign trail and during his previous administration, President-elect Donald Trump has frequently deployed violent language and threats against the media. His election to a second term in office marks a dangerous moment for American journalism and global press freedom”, RSF says.
“The steps he takes in the early days of his next administration could chart the course for the years to come, with implications far beyond US borders. Rather than doubling down on the hostility he has espoused towards the media so far, Trump should take the opportunity instead to repair the domestic press freedom climate and reposition the United States as a global leader in press freedom.”
“Since he entered the political arena, Trump has referred to any media that are critical of him as “fake news.” He used the term as many as 2,000 times during his first presidency. He continued to berate the news industry on the campaign trail in the run-up to the 2024 election, with verbal attacks accompanied by plans to weaponize the government against his perceived “enemies.” Alarmingly, he has repeatedly called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to revoke the licenses of specific media”, RSF says.
“Freedom of the press is one of the core pillars of our democracy that made America great in the first place. Attacking the press is really an attack on American citizens’ right to know. Trump’s new administration can and must change its tune with the media and take concrete steps to protect journalists and develop a climate conducive to a robust and pluralistic news media. Regardless of what path Trump chooses, RSF will remain a tireless advocate for press freedom and the safety of journalists”, says Clayton Weimers
Executive Director, RSF USA
The board of directors at the Committee to Protect Journalists says it stands firmly in defense of a robust press that can report the facts and hold power to account freely and safely.
“At this pivotal moment in US history, we urge the next administration and decision makers across government and business to recognise the free press and the factual information that journalists provide as an essential component of democracy, stability, and public safety.”
“The fundamental right to a free press, guaranteed by the First Amendment of the US Constitution, must not be impaired. Legal persecution, imprisonment, physical violence, and even killings have sadly become familiar threats for journalists across the world. They must not now also become commonplace in the United States, where threats of violence and online harassment have in recent years become routine”, CPJ says.
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