The Shifting Role of Media in a Polarized World

Last week, people reacted strongly to news that MSNBC's "Morning Joe" hosts, Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, met with President-Elect Donald Trump. Jim VandeHei, co-founder of Axios and Politico, defended the meeting, saying journalists need more information to share and report. However, critics argue that "Morning Joe" is not traditional journalism but rather opinionated news, which has been increasingly popular in recent years. Scarborough and Brzezinski openly supported Democrat Kamala Harris and criticized Trump, yet they still met with him. This disappointed many viewers who saw it as a contradiction. The show's ratings temporarily dropped after the meeting was announced. The blurring of news and opinion isn't new, but it has intensified in the past decade. Broadcast television used to focus on fact-based news, but the success of Fox News and other opinion-based outlets has changed that. Today, many people prefer news that reflects their views. The 2024 campaign coverage showed a shift towards podcasts and other platforms that offer friendly spaces for politicians. Megyn Kelly, once a Fox News reporter, now hosts a successful podcast with conservative views. Even CNN, known for its impartiality, saw a significant drop in ratings after the election. The challenge for non-partisan news is clear. Frank Sesno, a former CNN bureau chief, argues that "Morning Joe" hosts are talented but not journalists seeking truth. Kate O'Brian, outgoing head of news at E. W. Scripps Co. , believes exhaustion from the polarized climate could bring back traditional journalism. The future of non-partisan news is uncertain, but the desire for it still exists.