Thread by @DonnerKay

This is seriously what happens when a nation, and its media, frames everything as a two-sided, us-or-them game that serves only a few politically. It’s a sick narrative, and deadly.

https://twitter.com/DKThomp/status/1389203704637759494

Americans need to learn to think systemically, not along a fake partisan dividing line even about a pandemic. Media should lead on this front—not bolster and profit from this binary game. For one, let’s end what’s called “political reporting”—now just games of already-powerful.

Replace so-called “political coverage” (usually done by too-often-misogynistic and arrogant white men seeking fame/clicks) with policy coverage—focused on real people, needs and how needs served, how, who. That is, stop serving those who benefit from fake “red-blue” reporting.

Then fully report through history/causes/symptoms/solutions/people lens on all in/seeking power without protecting your or your backers’ buddies of any party. Yes, it’s real work of the kind that might drive many lazy “political reporters” out of journalism, but that’s good thing

Outcome would be the people getting real info about issues affecting lives that isn’t calibrated through partisan paradigm to create pretend-“neutrality” and no more “who’s more conservative/liberal” headlines planted by tricky candidates. Less oppo, more substance.

Lose all binary red-vs-blue and fake “both sides” imagery and tag lines (seriously, we all know it’s fake), stop obsessing over powerful of any party without deep context/homework, and devote all resources to focus on people and policy, letting chips fall where they must.

That is, treat journalism seriously with focus on people over politicians. By design, red-blue-obsessed horserace “journalism” cannot “watchdog” politicians; it never has; it never will. Such “political journalism” is a playground and ego boost for the powerful and wealthy.

It also continually platforms powerful white men over all others. “Well, they’re the ones in power, and we’re (cough) ‘watchdogging’ them.” No you’re not: your deck-chair games keep same types in power without serious checks to that power until **maybe** after fact.

I’ve watched this game for 20 years here (and weathered personal attacks from Dems and GOP when I refused to play it to their chagrin). By damn it to hell, it is not real journalism to obsess and bow to partisan games over all else. That was designed to serve powerful/advertisers