On Thursday, CNN anchor Jim Acosta took a moment during his Newsroom broadcast to make a passionate defense of press freedom. While Acosta’s words may have sounded noble in the abstract, they came off as tone-deaf, especially in the context of growing public frustration over the media’s handling of pressing issues—most notably, President Biden’s mental decline.
“I want to take a moment to talk about something President Biden said during his farewell address. He warned the free press is crumbling in this country. I would add, that’s only if we the people let that happen. Journalists exist to seek the truth, to tell people’s stories, to lift up voices that may not be heard otherwise, to shine a light on injustice and to hold the powerful accountable. We are not the enemy of the people. We are the defenders of the people.”
He added, “Walter Cronkite once said, freedom of the press is not just important to democracy, it is democracy. I want to take a moment to show you something. A woman sent me this sign eight years ago. She carried it here at a March in Washington. She wrote on the back of the sign to me and the press here in DC, ‘you have our support.’ To Nora, wherever you are, right back at ya.”
Across the nation, millions of Americans feel that the press has become largely disconnected from the concerns and realities of everyday citizens. And as the media has been increasingly criticized for its selective reporting, Acosta’s defense feels hollow when compared to the industry’s ongoing failure to engage with some of the most significant issues facing the American public.
Beyond the issue of Biden’s mental state, Acosta’s comments also come at a time when the press is under fire for its failure to engage with stories that matter to ordinary Americans. From rising inflation and economic hardship to growing concerns about crime and the border crisis, the media’s fixation on certain narratives—often at the expense of broader, more urgent issues—has led to a growing sense of distrust among the public.
Acosta’s declaration contradicts the so-called “lived experiences” of many Americans who believe the press is more focused on pushing specific agendas than on covering the full range of stories that affect their lives. The public’s perception of the media has steadily declined, with many seeing it as biased, out of touch, and more interested in sensationalism than in providing objective, comprehensive reporting. For that reason, Acosta’s defense is impossible to take seriously.
Holding power to account doesn’t just mean questioning the actions of those in the opposition party; it requires rigorous scrutiny of all those in power, regardless of political affiliation. Legacy media has consistently failed this test under President Biden, and in many cases been accused of not only ignoring the failures that plagued his administration but covering for them.
While press freedom is undeniably a pillar of democracy, journalists must remember that with this freedom comes the responsibility to serve the public with integrity and transparency.
READ NEXT: CNN Chief Proposes Midnight Slot For Jim Acosta
The Media IS to blame, because they allow people like Acosta to spew their garbage, and don’t do anything to stop it when they know it’s full of false or unproven facts. He should be ashamed of himself for even mentioning Walter Cronkite, no matter how true the statement was. Walter was from a different time. A time where journalism and the act of actually reporting news was front and center. Nothing like the wannabe’s on air now. Acosta should be on a late, late night slot, because nobody is going to listen to him anyway.