WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a series of late-night social media posts, President Donald Trump suggested large news networks like ABC and NBC should be fined or taken off the air because of their coverage of his administration. While it’s not the first time the President has launched threats against the press, journalism advocacy groups are troubled by these latest comments.
Trump wrote a series of posts on his Truth Social platform criticizing news outlets over their polling and coverage of his administration. He wrote: “Despite a very high popularity and, according to many, among the greatest 8 months in Presidential History, ABC & NBC FAKE NEWS, two of the worst and most biased networks in history, give me 97% BAD STORIES. IF THAT IS THE CASE, THEY ARE SIMPLY AN ARM OF THE DEMOCRAT PARTY AND SHOULD, ACCORDING TO MANY, HAVE THEIR LICENSES REVOKED BY THE FCC. I would be totally in favor of that because they are so biased and untruthful, an actual threat to our Democracy!!! MAGA”.
He also claimed those networks should lose their licenses “for their unfair coverage of Republicans and/or Conservatives, but at a minimum, they should pay up BIG for having the privilege of using the most valuable airwaves anywhere at anytime!!!”
The FCC said they do not license TV or radio networks such as CBS, NBC, ABC or FOX, but their local news affiliates are.
“The FCC is bound by the law and the constitution not to censor licenses based on the viewpoints expressed in their coverage,” said Seth Stern, director of advocacy for the Freedom of the Press Foundation. “It is fundamentally un-American for the government to retaliate against news outlets or broadcasters otherwise for what they say about the government. They’re constitutionally protected roles serve as watchdogs of the government, not to make government officials happy with their coverage.”
The Society of Professional Journalists, an organization dedicated to the free practice of journalism and high standards of ethical behavior, sent us this statement from the SPJ National President, Emily Bloch:
“The Society of Professional Journalists is deeply troubled by President Trump’s call for the FCC to revoke the licenses of NBC and ABC because of ‘unfavorable coverage.’ In the United States, news organizations are not personal PR tools for any president or politician. This is not state-run media, and unfavorable coverage does not equal bad journalism.
“Our nation’s founders enshrined freedom of the press in the very first amendment to the Constitution because they understood that a free, independent press is essential to a government of the people. Threats to silence journalists for doing their jobs run counter to American democracy and to the values that make this country strong.”
Stern adds when there are attacks on press freedom, he thinks journalists should be vocal about it.
“The public is sometimes deprived of information about the attacks on press freedom because the journalists are uncomfortable making themselves the story,” said Stern. “They feel like its insider stuff. They feel like they’re too involved to cover it but it’s news. It’s the only profession protected by the constitution and when it’s being attacked by the government, that’s news. Just like when the government attacks any other constitutional rights. So, journalists need to rise to this moment and get over whatever awkwardness they feel about being the story and communicate what’s happening with their readers and viewers because it is important.”
