The U.S. news industry did a rare thing on Thursday. Over 350 newspapers published editorials decrying President Donald Trump’s attacks on the media. The coordinated effort drew a predictable rebuke from the White House. For an industry under financial duress, a concerted campaign for subscribers might be more effective.
Never very popular
Aside from his “fake news” mantra, Mr. Trump’s description of the press as the enemy of the people stirs up resentment against an occupation that was never very popular. The Committee to Protect Journalists says at least 24 media representatives have been physically attacked in the United States this year, and three more arrested. A newsroom shooting in June has made 2018 the deadliest year for the profession in America, according to CPJ’s records.
The Boston Globe led the charge to rally peers, and papers from the New York Times to the Idyllwild Town Crier heeded the call.
Some, including the Capital Gazette in Annapolis where four journalists and a colleague were gunned down, declined to take part.
The participating editors’ concerns about press freedom and even safety may be justified, but the almost unprecedented synchronized protest lends credence to critics who think the media is monolithic, unable to think independently, and aligned against the White House. Mr. Trump tweeted on Thursday that the editorials were proof of collusion.
A better focus for the industry would be on boosting its profitability. Advertising revenue is still declining faster than subscription revenue is going up, squeezing reporting budgets. Yet the glimmer of hope in circulation revenue offers an organizing strategy: Persuade more people that it’s worth paying for a free press.
( The author is a Reuters Breakingviews columnist. The opinions expressed are her own )
