Donald Trump listen up! "No fake news in Mueller Report!"

Editorial echo from The Middletown Press, a Connecticut newspaper: Mueller report shows who gave ‘fake news’

Most Americans were in agreement about whether Trump lied to the public about the matters under investigation by Mueller — 58 percent believe he did so, reports Vox by By Gabriela Resto-Montero

Dateline:  DONALD TRUMP- more lies.

Redacted pages.....and redacted pages in the Mueller Report, censured by #fakeBarr, but the narrative exposes Trump lies.

This shining truth is evident in the much-anticipated Mueller report released Thursday — there was no so-called “fake news.”

Read all about it. No Fake News in the Mueller Report!

As Special Counsel Robert Mueller began his investigation into areas of conduct by Donald Trump nearly two years ago, the news media pursued its own in-depth reporting on the administration. For every revealing story reported and published in some of the most respected media outlets in the country — The New York Times, the Washington Post, CNN — the president would cry “Fake News.”

But he was wrong, and that diversionary tactic is exposed now for what it is — another lie.

The 400-plus pages of the report released by Attorney General William Barr, with redactions of classified material and referrals to criminal courts for further investigation, merit close scrutiny. The American people, for whom Mueller worked, need for him to appear before Congress and explain his reasoning.

The investigation centered on two overarching areas — did the president or his campaign collude with the Russians to influence the 2016 election, and did the president obstruct justice in the investigation? On the face of it, the answer appears to be no on both counts.

Whether Mueller determined there was insufficient evidence of obstruction of justice because others in the White House tried to thwart the president’s attempts should be explored.

But for now we are focusing on the integrity — and necessity — of journalism in contrast to the lies and manipulation by the president and his circle.

It was not “fake news” that a foreign country tried to influence the American election, and succeeded. This should scare everyone. It was not “fake news” that Donald Trump Jr. and others met with Russian operatives in Trump Tower during the campaign season. It was not “fake news” that Trump ordered his attorney, Michael Cohen, to pay off a porn star and keep his extramarital affair secret.

Democracy can teeter on the edge of autocracy when the ruler tries to discredit the truth and baldly attempts to turn the American people against the institution working on their behalf — the press. Remember President Trump calling the media “the enemy of the people?” That is chilling, and couldn’t be further from the truth.

Instead, the Mueller report shows, “fake news” — lies — came from the White House. Under oath, Press Secretary Sarah Sanders admitted that she made up the assertion that many rank-and-file Justice Department personnel had lost faith in their leader at the time, James Comey. This was fabricated as an excuse for President Trump to fire him.

That is one example. We do not have enough space to get into all the lies put forth by the (MaineWriter #fakePresident Donald Trump. (The website PolitiFact does a good job of that.)

Whether you describe yourself as conservative, liberal, progressive, whatever — journalism is for the people. Be informed.

A free and unfettered press, one that does not shirk from reporting on those in power, is essential to democracy.

Sunshine Week and your local right to know - echo opinion from Maine

An echo opinion advocates for ethical journalism in the Trumpzi age of reporting about political polarization. This opinion was published in The Northern Forecaster, a Maine weekly newspaper. The opinion is the author's but I enjoyed learning about "Sunshine Week":

MaineWriter opinion: "All politics is local......and good journalism must be, too...."

Sun always shines on local journalism (focus on Sunshine Week!) by John Balentine, an op-ed titled "Here's Something".

News consumers in the age of Trump can’t help but notice the disturbing conjoining of journalism and government.

Alleged leaks – the FBI tipping off CNN to an upcoming raid, or Democrat congressional aides distributing documents to the media before giving them to Republicans – prove how government officials and journalists secretly rely on each other to further their own aims.

Conservatives have long recognized mainstream media’s bias, but these journalists’ opposition to Trump and knee-jerk support of anything Democrats propose, has revealed this (polarizing) fact to all Americans.

However, there’s always a way out of the darkness in America, whose foundational principles of free speech and a free press give us hope that, even when some actors in government and journalism are too cozy for comfort, something eventually will clean up their act.

Every year around the time, we spring forward and welcome more light into our lives, and the media world marks Sunshine Week. It’s a chance for news outlets to remind everyone of the importance of open government, and that most everything government officials do – even their email – is available upon request.

Sunshine Week, held March 10-16 this year and begun by the American Society of News Editors in 2005, seems even more important now because, as we’re seeing especially on a national scale, secretive plotting behind the scenes is corrupting both government and journalism. As such, detoxifying sunshine should be shed on journalism, not just government, this Sunshine Week.

As our national media devolves into tribal factions, with conservative and liberal biases on full display, local news outlets are proving their worth as go-to sources of relatively unbiased news. Why? It’s because they are closer to – and, as such, more accountable – to their readers and viewers.

Just as there are three levels of representative government – local (town or city), regional (county or state) and federal – there are three levels of journalism: local, regional and national. The smaller the institution, whether it be government or news outlets, the more accountable it is.

Just as it’s nearly impossible to talk directly with Trump, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi or Senator Angus King or Senator Susan Collins, if you have a federal government issue, you can’t call and talk to the editors of national media outlets such as The New York Times or NBC Nightly News. At best, you’ll reach an aide giving you a polite goodbye the minute after you called. National-level institutions are out of reach. State- and regional-level institutions aren’t much better.

Compare that to local government and news outlets where you can directly talk to a town councilor, town manager, reporter or editor at the hometown newspaper. Local officials and local journalists can’t hide from their constituents and readers.

When it comes to transparency in government, local is better. This is why conservatives don’t want a world government or too much federal control. The bigger the government institution, the more corrupt it can become.  (MaineWriter....weellll? On the other hand, often too much local control prohibits oversight, too.....not sure I agree with Mr. Balentine's assumption about "too much federal control".)

Same with journalism. While a national reporter may get away with issue advocacy, fudging details, omitting facts or writing to a biased narrative, local reporters can’t because they must face their sources and readers on a regular basis. They’ll be found out and corrected, sometimes humiliatingly so.

Despite the inherent advantages of smaller government and smaller journalism, unfortunately we’re seeing a trend toward bigger. But, just as service after the sale is why many shop locally, remember this Sunshine Week, that....(advocacy) for local is (...good...) for news and government, for reasons of accountability.

MaineWriter postscript -  I'm glad to know about Sunshine Week. 

Spiritual heroism of James Wright Foley and Steven Joel Sotloff

When the evil Islamic State aka ISIS makes barbaric statements about the group's hatred for all they deem to be un-Muslim, by beheading heroic journalists, they are creating an unlikely spiritual legacy. By their evil action, ISIS is raising its victims to the heights of being spiritual icons for those who oppose radical doctrines. Eventually, without any doubt, like fire burns through dense forests when sparked by lightening, the lives of executed journalists will rise above the disgusting intentions of their executioners. 

ISIS can never-ever create support for its heinously misguided philosophies by terrifying people into becoming followers. Moreover, the brutality of the group's executions of the highly reputable James Wright Foley and Steven Joel Sotloff brings attention to the spiritual strength of both men. They were spiritual bookends, like Old and New Testament martyrs, Mr. Sotloff was a devout Jew and Mr. Foley was a practicing Roman Catholic. It's an ironic coincidence that both were men of faith.

Both men appeared to be in Syria because of their convictions to tell the world about the tragedies resulting from the oppressive regime of Syrian President Assad. 

In fact, like ISIS, President Assad is terrorizing his own people while throwing all non supporters, especially Christians and certainly Jews, too, out of the Syrian nation. This is a modern Holocaust. Sotloff and Foley wanted to give voice to those oppressed by this tyranny.

As a result, millions of Syrian refugees are living in camps on the Syrian border nations, mostly in Jordan.

It's just a matter of time before iconic prayer cards will be available to honor James Wright Foley (1973-2014)  and Steven Joel Sotloff.  
Meanwhile Mr. Sotloff's family has challenged the ISIS leaders to defend the execution of their son when he had done nothing to harm anyone.  

(CNN) -- The family of American Steven Sotloff had a message Wednesday for the notorious leader of the terror group ISIS, asking him to answer for the sin he committed with the beheading of the journalist. Sotloff's family broke its silence the same day U.S. intelligence officials said the videotaped execution was authentic.

"I have a message for Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi," family spokesman Barak Barfi told reporters in Arabic, reading from a statement. "Where is your mercy?"

"Wayluk," Barfi said, using an Arabic phrase that roughly translates to committing a great sin.

"I am here debating you with kindness. I don't have a sword in my hand, and I am ready for your answer," according to the statement read by Barfi.The statement went on to cite passages from the Quran, asking al-Baghdadi why he violated the tenets.

Both James Foley and Steven Sotloff lived faithful lives and died herocally, albeit too violently soon.

Steven Sotloff ventured into conflict zones and dark corners of the Middle East to tell the stories of people who were too fearful to speak for themselves. He worked as a freelancer, without the security apparatus provided by major news organizations.

“Steve said it was scary over there. It was dangerous. It wasn’t safe to be over there. He knew it. He kept going back,” a college roommate, Emerson Lotzia Jr., told The New York Times.

James Foley certainly knew of the risks. Also a freelance journalist, he was imprisoned for six weeks in a Libyan jail in 2011. Even after that, he went back.

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/barbara-shelly/article1517005.html#storylink=cpy

Both Foley and Sotloff were abducted in Syria and ended up in the murderous hands of the militant group Islamic State. These brave men are now dead, their slayings revealed to the world in recent weeks in videos made public by their killers.

Both journalists are martyrs for freedom of the oppressed. Each man will have his own life and death kept alive in the sacred memories of those who will find spiritual strength from their burning desire to reveal truth in the shadow of tyranny. They both stayed true to their convictions and maintained religious dignity, even knowing they were being led to their deaths. In death, they are both immortal icons for all who risk their lives for freedom.

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/barbara-shelly/article1517005.html#storylink=cpy

Ethics in News Journalism - Perhaps a Small Step in Maine

http://www.mpbn.net/News/MPBNNews/tabid/1159/ctl/ViewItem/mid/3762/ItemId/24832/Default.aspx

I've been suspicious about media manipulation during this past 2012  Presidential election.  Now, two news journalists resigned on the air to protest management interference in their work.

This story from Bangor Maine Channel 7, in my opinion, might just  be a small step to expose a much wider ethical problem in news reporting.

Media manipulation is becoming even more troublesome, as the struggle to maintain market share among media outlets is probably at cut throat status.  News followers switch their media loyalties faster than we sort through our daily junk mail.  Pressure to retain viewers and followers are intense.  Americans are likely drawn to media where the news favors their personal points of view. But, this has proven to be deceptive, as Fox News led their viewers to falsely believe Governor Mitt Romney was a pre-destined winner of the Presidential 2012 campaign.  This was certainly misleading, if not a pack of downright lies. Nonetheless, the myth that Romney would defeat the incumbent President Obama kept faithful conservative viewers bonded to Fox News anchors.

Of course, it's not a journalist's job to provide just the news people want to read. That's called "entertainment news".  Rather, news journalists are supposed to report, objectively, about what they observe, rather than what followers may want to know, especially at the expense of truth.

Perhaps, the story reported by Maine Public Broadcasting News (MPBN) is a harbinger for other ethical journalists who find the troubling trend toward "entertainment news" to  be completely irresponsible!  

As reported at link above:
"Last night, two television anchors at WVII Channel 7 in Bangor stunned audiences by tendering their resignations live on air. News Director Cindy Michaels and Executive Producer Tony Consiglio had co-anchored the evening newscast on ABC 7 for more than six years. Although neither has pointed to any specific incidents, Michaels and Consiglio both say that the station's managers have been exercising undue influence over news content. But the station's manager disagrees. Meanwhile, as Jennifer Mitchell reports, independent observers are watching to see what comes of it all."

Perhaps, this a small step in a trend toward ethics in news journalism?  I wish them all the best! Nevertheless, I suspect the issues that drove this on air resignation are more widespread than media followers realize.