Thread by @ZhiZhuWeb

"Media coverage that draws a false equivalence between one party operating in defense of democracy and another seeking to tear it down ... fails the most fundamental goal of journalism: to inform the public."
~@JRubinBlogger

#journalism #journalists
washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/…

"The false balance syndrome ironically enables the one party whose survival depends on deflection and obfuscation to triumph over one trying desperately to debunk serial lying."
~@JRubinBlogger

#journalism #journalists
washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/…

"What would accurate, morally defensible coverage look like?

First, instead of the “Republicans say” formulation, the most precise framing is more often than not “Republicans lied” or “Republicans offered a non sequitur.”"
~@JRubinBlogger

#journalism
washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/…

"Second, the media cannot allow Republicans to rewrite the past.... repeat McCarthy’s own words. As he said shortly after the attack, “The president bears responsibility for Wednesday’s attack on Congress by mob rioters.”"
~@JRubinBlogger

#journalism
washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/…

"Third, the media should stop accepting Republican definitions that distort reality ... those who seek to upend democratic elections and reject the rule of law ... are authoritarian or anti-democratic. Terminology matters."
~@JRubinBlogger

#journalism
washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/…

"Fourth, Republicans’ false assertions in other realms ...should not be taken at face value. Instead, the media should place such statements in the context of Republicans’ ongoing effort to subvert the will of voters."
~@JRubinBlogger

#journalism
washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/…

"Instead of repeating obvious lies (e.g., Republicans are concerned about election fraud), reporters are obligated to point out that Republicans’ false assertions flow from their overarching lie that the election was stolen."
~@JRubinBlogger

#journalism
washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/…

"Fifth, just as the former president’s unhinged speeches and emails (which often contain disinformation about the pandemic and 2020 election) get far too much attention, the incessant repetition of right-wing media propaganda serves to spread their noxious views"

"Sixth, it is incumbent on the media to describe the demeanor of Republicans more vividly. ...

Put differently, reporters should stop making MAGA leaders more reasonable than they are."
~@JRubinBlogger

#Journalism
washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/…

"Seventh, the White House press corps must stop echoing false Republican talking points."

*****[YES, PLEASE!]*****

[Why do so many reporters just mindlessly repeat what they KNOW are lies over and over again?]

"Eighth, outlets should stop squeezing every issue into a political frame. ... When, for example, the commerce secretary is scheduled to appear in the briefing room, business and economics reporters should be asking the questions."

#Journalism
washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/…

"Finally, too much coverage assumes that Republicans have no choice but to continue their sycophancy toward former president Donald Trump ...

Republican state lawmaker Jake Ellzey on Tuesday handily beat the Trump-endorsed Susan Wright"

#Journalism
washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/…