The media hasn't learned at all

NPR media critic Eric Deggans wrote the book and it hasn't gotten better since

Race-Baiter

That’s what former Fox host Bill O’Reilly called Eric Deggans when he discussed how Fox and others in the media were using loaded language and racist dog whistles to divide us. This blew up during the Obama Administration and when he wrote a book about it in 2012 it was the natural title. He called for a change in the direction and direct efforts to bring back a more civil discourse.

Eleven years later it’s only gotten much worse. We face a time of increasing division and open racism that doesn’t even pretend to be a dog whistle anymore. Fox and far-right radio was where it all started but now a multi-faceted media environment and multiple outlets compete in a race to the bottom led by elected officials and main stream media seems incapable of understanding it or finding a way to successfully navigate this changing landscape.

Since then Eric has joined NPR as their first full time media critic and regularly joins all of their programs and podcasts to discuss everything from the Hollywood strike to how streaming has changed the nature of the entire media industry, good and bad. I was eager to speak with him after Kristin Welker launched her new role as the moderator of Meet the Press with an interview with Donald Trump that was a string of lies and false statements that went completely unquestioned in real time.

Eric has been urging those in the media to use what is known as the ‘truth sandwich’ approach to airing his statements. You open before running a clip with the facts, run the clip, then after reiterate that nothing he said has any basis in truth and here are the facts to back that up. Letting him simply say whatever he wants and posting a website of fact checks hours later is not the approach we need in this post-truth era of politics.

The whole interview is a fascinating educational journey on the media landscape and our moment including his great perspective on why diversity, equity, and inclusion is a necessary part of modern journalism. Catch this one before it premieres on the MeidasTouch network tonight at 11:00 PM EST.