The Changing World of Media in the Realm of Trump

Since Donald Trump came to office on 20 January 2017, the once steady path of journalism and political coverage has been turned on its ear.  Unexpected announcements of “breaking news” often come minute by minute, involving radio, TV, cable, magazines, newsletters, texting with headlines, APPs and a gamut of social media outlets. The relationship between media and rulers in the Realm of Trump is reminiscent of the medieval concept of Prior Restraint, when the king decided what was “news”. Instead of three co-equal branches of government, Trump seems to be moving to centralise all power in himself and in his office, bypassing debate, discussion or public input.  Government-controlled access to the media is used as a weapon, along with “false facts” and secrecy in hiding public information. So much time, talent, and resources are being spent to cover Trump and his entourage that other important news is not being covered.  And lost in the fray is the general public’s inability to discern the differences between propaganda, public relations, press releases and neutral news. How does one navigate this media minefield?

A US journalist and academic, based in Washington, DC, Kathleen Burns first came to Australia to accompany her FBI husband who was assigned to the American Embassy.  While here, she taught at Canberra University and was also the only US journalist accredited to the Parliamentary Press Galley.  During that time, she wrote more than 500...