What do the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, the mental decline of President Joe Biden, the Trump-Russia collusion narrative, and the Hunter Biden laptop story have in common? Journalists, who are supposed to pursue the truth without fear or favor, have instead acted as propagandists for the Washington power structure.
Journalism is about more than just reporting the news; it’s about digging deeper and examining the facts without bias. Reporters who avoid or misconstrue topics because of their political preferences aren’t just missing stories; they are deliberately choosing to lie to the public until the truth hits them so hard in the face they are forced to admit it.
As public confidence in the media continues to falter, the necessity for organizations such as the Steamboat Institute to promote unbiased journalism becomes even more vital. Through its Tony Blankley fellows, principled young journalists, Steamboat Institute challenges the status quo and strives to uncover the truth, regardless of political convenience.
On Saturday, America witnessed a harrowing event: an assassination attempt on the former president and current Republican nominee. In the immediate aftermath, confusion prevailed among major media outlets, leading to initial reports that significantly underplayed the gravity of the situation. It wasn’t until the following morning that the severity became clearer, yet discrepancies in reporting continued. For instance, the Denver Post’s headline “gunman dies” failed to mention that his death followed an attempt to assassinate the former president, while the New York Times notably avoided using the word “assassination.”
This recent, horrific incident is a glaring example of how the media disregard factual reporting, treating the public as if they are not able to see the truth of a situation with their very own eyes.
This pattern of misinformation and deceit from the media is hardly new, and it is starkly evident in their handling of Biden’s cognitive decline. Not merely an oversight, the media’s failure to address this issue appears to be a deliberate omission of facts. This became glaringly obvious following Biden’s disastrous performance in the recent presidential debate, prompting many journalists to express regret for not addressing the topic sooner.
Such incidents underscore a troubling trend in journalism today: sacrificing honesty for the sake of political appearance, where transparency is often the first casualty.
The same trend was evident during Trump’s first run for office in 2016, especially with “Russiagate.” The media’s eagerness to amplify questionable claims without proper verification played a significant role in spreading blatant misinformation throughout Trump’s bid for the presidency. Despite revelations of the clear lack of evidence and blatant deception, corrections (and apologies) from the media have been scarce, and the facts have gone largely uncorrected.
Journalists on the front line, at the White House, seemingly have one of the most important jobs of all: directly questioning the president and his staff on our nation’s most pressing problems. Unfortunately, the Biden administration has displayed a lack of seriousness in these important press briefings, from bringing celebrities into the press briefing room during times of crisis to selectively picking reporters based on their political leanings.
In the White House press corps, Steamboat Institute Blankley fellow Philip Wegmann stands out for his no-nonsense approach. While many journalists lob softball questions, Wegmann does not shy away from tough inquiries. During a notable press conference, he directly challenged Biden on his remarks comparing voting reform opponents to notorious segregationists, eliciting a noticeably agitated response from the current president.
The Hunter Biden laptop story further highlights media hesitation to tackle controversial issues that may clash with their narratives. When the New York Post first reported on the contents of the laptop, Twitter responded by blocking the story and locking the newspaper’s account, citing its hacked materials policy. The media quickly sided with Big Tech and immediately labeled the story with a term they disdain: fake news.
Sarah Bedford, a Steamboat Institute Blankley fellow and writer for the Washington Examiner, has made it a point to cover the Hunter Biden saga when the rest of the left-wing media (and government and social media) chose to cover up the scandalous and illegal activities of the president’s son. By championing thorough and unbiased investigations, Bedford and Steamboat Institute’s cadre of Blankley fellows exemplify the journalistic principles necessary to maintain public trust.
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As examples of biased reporting continue to pile up, from the blatant cover-up of monumental tragedies to the narratives surrounding political figures, they paint a troubling and bleak picture of a media that prioritizes narrative over truth.
In today’s media, where opinion often overrides facts, the need for dedicated journalists becomes even more critical. The Steamboat Institute’s commitment to cultivating reporters who not only question the status quo but also approach their work with integrity and depth is essential. They are actively shaping an informed public through journalism that goes beyond reporting events, crucial in an era where information is plentiful but true insight is rare. This makes the Steamboat Institute’s mission a beacon for those who value genuine journalism.
Jennifer Schubert-Akin is chairman and CEO of the Steamboat Institute, which she co-founded in 2008.