NYC Gazette

After losing the California gubernatorial election in 1962, Richard Nixon famously told reporters that they would miss having him to "kick around." However, he returned to politics and was elected president six years later. Nixon's presidency saw renewed tensions with journalists before his resignation in 1974.

Fast forward to January 6, 2021, when supporters of then-President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol building. A congressional investigation concluded that Trump's speech and social media posts incited the mob. Subsequently, Trump faced impeachment for "incitement of insurrection."

Following these events, some media companies distanced themselves from Trump. Rupert Murdoch reportedly stated in an email that Fox News wanted to make Trump a "non person." Similarly, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg blocked Trump's accounts indefinitely due to their use for inciting violence.

Trump is set to return as president on January 20, leading many to speculate on how the media will cover his second term. Associate Professor Adam Penenberg of NYU notes that while presidents have long had adversarial relationships with the press, current challenges could pose existential threats to journalism.

Penenberg reflects on historical presidential-press relations and raises concerns about self-censorship within media organizations. He cites examples such as Jeff Bezos' intervention at The Washington Post and changes at MSNBC regarding Trump coverage.

Matthew Yglesias wrote that Trump's first term was beneficial professionally for journalists and media companies but questions if this will be true for his second term. The fear among journalists today is palpable due to potential repercussions from covering Trump critically.

The history of US presidential interactions with the press shows a pattern of hostility across administrations. This includes actions by John Adams under the Sedition Act and Andrew Jackson's aggressive stance against journalists.

Independent journalism platforms like Substack are seen as future avenues for reporting without corporate influence but face challenges such as audience fragmentation and lack of editorial oversight.

Journalism education must adapt to these changes by equipping students with resilience and responsibility, according to Penenberg. The goal is not just storytelling but challenging power effectively while maintaining journalistic integrity.