American Journalism, Whither Goest Thou?

The Trump administration has implemented numerous changes in the United States of America, including a decrease in press freedom. The topic was analysed by Prof. Colin Porlezza, Associate Professor at USI Faculty of Communication, Culture and Society, in an interview published in Corriere del Ticino.

Until now, US journalism has enjoyed a positive spell, characterised by economic prosperity and freedom of the press. "From the perspective of the US Constitution, freedom of the press and, above all, freedom of expression are fundamental rights. However, these rights are interpreted quite broadly, which is why the media have traditionally benefited from them," explained Professor Colin Porlezza. "Although the media system still operates, at least in principle, free from government interference, the reality is more complex."

US citizens are increasingly expressing scepticism towards the press. However, this issue isn't the only challenge facing American media. The industry is experiencing significant economic difficulties; approximately one-third of the newspapers in circulation in 2005 have since closed, and more than 8,000 journalists have been laid off since 2022. "These numbers are significant," remarked Professor Porlezza. "It is essential to remember that when discussing journalism in the United States, we shouldn't focus exclusively on major publications like the New York Times, the Washington Post, or the Wall Street Journal. In fact, there is an important layer of journalism that often goes overlooked: regional and local journalism, which is currently under tremendous economic pressure." This situation, worsened by declining advertising revenues that have shifted mainly to social media, is resulting in the rise of "news deserts." These are areas considered "information deserts" due to the absence of local newspapers. Consequently, residents in these regions "are compelled to rely on digital sources for information, which often do not cover news relevant to their local areas."

The American media faces increased pressure due to the political climate following Donald Trump's re-election. "This situation has been compounded by the politicisation of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which serves as the independent media regulator in the United States. As a result, there have been efforts to dismantle public services like Voice of America and to further reduce federal funding for public media outlets such as National Public Radio (NPR)." Another element that has become central to the tycoon's is the delegitimisation of the media, which he accuses of spreading fake news and being the enemy of the people. There has also been an increase in specific lawsuits, leading many newspapers to settle to avoid going to court against the president: "Media companies capitulate and agree to pay money to evade the risks associated with a lawsuit. Despite the strong protection of freedom of expression in the United States, facing a court case with the president could have unpredictable consequences."

However, an encouraging sign for journalism overseas comes from this year's Pulitzer Prize awards. Professor Porlezza noted, "However, some preliminary remarks are in order. First, it is important to remember that Trump sued the Pulitzer Committee in 2022, accusing it of awarding prizes to articles that he believes spread false information about his connections to Russia. The Pulitzer Prizes are also administered by Columbia University, a prestigious institution with a well-regarded journalism faculty. However, for some time, Columbia has been one of Trump's targets for proposed funding cuts."

The USI professor concluded by reflecting that this year's awards could be seen as a sign of encouragement. He stated, "These investigations are connected, if not directly to the current administration or its representatives, to the consequences of political pressure from a certain faction that has led to significant changes."

The full interview with Professor Colin Porlezza, published in Corriere del Ticino, is available at the following link. (Italian only)