by George Barron
The 2024 presidential election was unlike any other, especially because of how the news media got involved. Instead of just telling us what was happening, the media started to make news themselves. They thought they could decide what people wanted from their leaders by making up stories that they said reflected what Americans thought.
Before the election, the media often painted Donald Trump in a bad light. They made up stories or emphasized negative events to make him look worse. This was their way of trying to get people not to vote for him. The idea was that by showing only the bad, voters would choose differently.
On the other hand, when it came to Kamala Harris, the media only showed the good stuff. They reported stories that made her seem like the best choice for president. It was like they were her cheerleaders, only telling us about her so-called achievements and ignoring any downsides.
This behavior from the media turned them into players in the election rather than just watchers. People started noticing that the news wasn’t just news anymore. It was more like a campaign tool. This made some voters question what was real and what was just media spin.
The media’s strategy was clear: push voters away from Trump with negative coverage and pull them towards Harris with positive news. But, this approach didn’t go as planned. Instead of controlling the narrative, the media found themselves under scrutiny. People began to see the news for what it was—not just information but influence.
This election showed us how powerful the media can be, but also how it can lose trust when it tries to shape public opinion instead of just reporting it. It’s a reminder to think critically about the news we consume, especially during big events like an election. Alternate media sources are now making the failures and incidious plots of the mainstream headline stories. Meanwhile, alternative sources are on the rise, while legacy media viewership is declining precipitously.
Written with assistance from xAI’s Grok AI