Why (local) digital media remains so biased
As local online websites consider new ways to banish independent comments that run contrary to their lefty narrative, thoughtful readers wonder: How did this come to pass? What ruined so-called "journalism?" Audrey Mir in City Journal offers an answer: As the internet demolished legacy media's ad-based model, it ushered in an era of "Post-Journalism," which needs outrage, hyper-partisan postures, and an ever-present Enemy to make their subscription-based business model work. Excerpt below.
How advertising used to promote serious, broad-based journalism
The ad-based business model kept the natural liberal predisposition of journalists in check. The balance between the liberalism of the newsrooms and the business necessity to appeal to the 'vast middle' for better advertising maintained the market value and cultural power of journalisms. Despite its inherent liberalism, journalism still needed to address a broad base of consumers for better advertising, and this maintained both the market value and cultural power of journalism.
How the move to subscription-based models invited divisiveness, polarization, and bias-confirmation--also known as "fan service."
To succeed, these new {subscription-based} digital newsrooms needed to maintain frustration and instigate polarization to keep donors scared, outraged, and engaged. The news media reminded readers how outrageous the outrageous events were, and their focus turned toward such events. As the scare came to replace news as a commodity, the media switched from news supply to news validation.
How digital social media protocols defeated objective journalisms' conventions
The transition of news coverage and public discussions from legacy media to social media invited politicization. Social media elevated the role of progressive content producers: academic, bohemian, social justice advocates. The main social feature of the new medium--the intensity of self expression in the pursuit of response--tended to convert private talks into public activism and thus empowered activism as a mindset, not just an activity. In the 2010s, activism gained momentum in digital media and thus proliferated far beyond its traditional circles.
R.I.P. objective journalism
The biggest loss is the mutation of journalism into post-journalism. Post journalism has turned the media into the crowdfunded Ministries of Truth. The worst part of journalism is that only a few enterprises can succeed in the new business model. The worst part for society is that all legacy media need to pursue digital subscriptions or viewership as their last hope for survival, and thus must join the race into post journalism.
This article originally appeared in City Journal. Read the whole thing here (Summer 2022).
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