Donald Trump, The Times and the "Non-Denial Denial"
After the New York Times published an extensive, on-the-record, post-election interview with Donald Trump, the president-elect's airbrushers and apologists pushed a narrative that he retreated from his extreme campaign platform. CNN said Trump "has begun moderating some of his toughest positions." The New York Daily News splashed a tabloid front-page whipping up his orange hair into ice-cream with the headline "Mister Softie." That's only true if you completely ignore the s
Facebook's Nixon-Goes-to-China Moment
When President Richard Nixon traveled to China, the Cold War-rapprochement became a symbol for hardliners reaching an accord. In this article for Courthouse News, I report that a Silicon Valley equivalent could occur if Facebook agrees to an invitation that the Society of Professional Journalists extended to them. In my exclusive interview, SPJ president Lynn Walsh agrees that Facebook is a media platform and urges the company to adopt a journalistic code of ethics. “For me,
Make Facebook Transparent Again
When Facebook first launched, it forced users to register under their real names to "keep our community safe." It urgently needs to adopt routine editorial standards of disclosure for exactly the same reason. Cigarettes have warning labels. Most food products come with a list of ingredients and nutritional facts. Responsible news outlets disclose their funding, masthead, corporate structure, conflicts of interest, and other critical information about what they report. By o
