Anonymous op-ed on Trump was mistake
I don’t agree with President Donald Trump on much of anything.
But the New York Times made a dangerous blunder when it ran an anonymous hit piece — supposedly by a member of Trump’s inner circle.
It wasn’t “treason,” as Trump speculated in a tweet. But this so-called op-ed is not defensible as fair commentary or good journalism.
1. It undermines public confidence
This op-ed is little more than gossip. It does nothing to enlighten the public, but it does empower those — like Trump — who seek to undermine the public’s confidence in the free press.
The mainstream media has to hold itself to a scrupulously high standard because a free press is one of our best defenses against the kind of autocratic, incompetent rule Trump represents.
Public confidence is eroded by publishing an anonymous hit piece by a writer of questionable moral character.
And this character is questionable. After all, if this person believes Trump is such a threat to our country, the person should be doing more than facilitating a rancid administration while whispering its secrets.
2. Anonymous sources are suspect
Anonymous sources are suspect. Their motives are unknown.
Sure, anonymous sources can provide important leads and help connect dots. But what they say has to be independently verified. Investigative reporters know that.
The New York Times editorial page should, too.
For all the Times knows, the institution got played by a Trump double agent whose goal was to reinforce a negative view of the press and win a little sympathy for the president.
3. Opinion writing is not fiction
Healthy journalistic skepticism should not be abandoned just because the piece runs on the opinion page. Opinion writers are journalists, too. As an opinion writer, I get to go beyond simply reporting the news. That’s a privilege that comes with responsibility.
Opinion writers get to draw conclusions, make connections and offer our ideas in the interest of sparking conversation or influencing the political debate.
But opinion writers have to stand behind what they write and take the heat from those who disagree. We don’t get to make stuff up.
Those who write guest columns for opinion pages need to be held to the same journalistic standard.
4. This strengthens Trump’s hand
This anonymous hit piece played into Trump’s whining about how the mainstream media is out to get him.
It reinforces conspiracy theories about how the “liberal press” is telling lies about the president.
It’s also a distraction from the existential threats this administration faces from its own incompetence. The noise caused by this op-ed will diminish the impact of genuine, verified news of Trump’s actions.
What’s more, piling on now will dull the impact of what the Mueller investigation finds.
5. Journalism deserves better
Reporters have been under attack since before Sarah Palin took the phrase “lame-stream media” on the campaign trail as John McCain’s 2008 running mate.
Trump built on her attacks with his relentless assaults on the honesty and motives of reporters who tell the truth about his lies and shine a light on his blunders.
The public needs to know that journalists from legitimate news organizations do a job that is critical to our freedom. Reporters do that job conscientiously and with respect for fairness and accuracy.
This anonymous op-ed is the antithesis of good journalism.
Publishing an unverifiable, anonymous kiss-and-tell about what goes on the White House is something one expects to see in a tabloid next to an article about “Who Really Killed Elvis.”
But the New York Times? Wrong. Just wrong.
The mainstream media has to hold itself to a scrupulously high standard because a free press is one of our best defenses against the kind of autocratic, incompetent rule Trump represents.