President Donald Trump tweeted The FAKE NEWS media (failing @nytimes, @NBCNews, @ABC, @CBS, @CNN) is not my enemy, it is the enemy of the American People!”
To say that there is a divide between the current White House Administration and the mainstream press is an understatement. The relationship seems to be combative on the president’s part, with his constant tweets and his tense press conference. However, there are also many in the press who constantly attack the president.
Immaturity and lack of civility seem to be present on both sides. The president is constantly on the attack, expecting problems from the press, and the press seem to love to antagonize this president. We have gotten to the point where the press has become the story. And let’s face it, the press vs. the president is an interesting story, to say the least.
We are not defending the president’s policies or even his attitude, but we also have to chide some in the press who, not for the sake of journalistic freedom, but for the sake of the story, stir up the pot. “Alternative truth” is the product of “fake news” on both sides of the spectrum, from the White House and from the “Grey Lady.”
Once again, we as Catholic Christians should turn to the Catechism of the Catholic Church to see what the relationship needs to be between the press, the state, and the truth. Perhaps it would be good to quote it here:
2493 “Within modern society the communications media play a major role in information, cultural promotion, and formation. This role is increasing, as a result of technological progress, the extent and diversity of the news transmitted, and the influence exercised on public opinion.”
2494 “The information provided by the media is at the service of the common good.”
2495 “Society has a right to information based on truth, freedom, justice, and solidarity.”
2499 “Moral judgment must condemn the plague of totalitarian states which systematically falsify the truth, exercise political control of opinion through the media, manipulate defendants and witnesses at public trials, and imagine that they secure their tyranny by strangling and repressing everything they consider ‘thought crimes.’”
In light of this section of the catechism, is the president being unfair to the press? Is the press being unfair to the president?