Keen On

Andrew Checchia, a young journalist at NewsJunkie.net, requested an interview with me about the current state of American journalism. So here are my thoughts about the Fourth Estate’s role in democracy, our supposedly dwindling trust in media, the ongoing cult of amateurism in journalism and Trump’s successful merging of news and entertainment. Here are the five KEEN ON AMERICA takeaways from my interview with Checchia:* The Fourth Estate's Role in Democracy* I present journalism not as a formal branch of government but as a consequence of democracy* I believe journalism is necessary for a functioning democracy but I certainly don’t think people can or should be forced to consume news* I defend "elite" journalism, comparing it to other professional fields like medicine or law* Trust in Media* I argue that while trust in journalism has declined, people who pay for subscriptions to The New York Times or Wall Street Journal likely trust those sources* I suggest (duh) the real problem isn't with journalism itself