President Donald Trump has called the media, specifically the news, as the enemy of the people. Indeed, they are President Trump's most vicious opponent, with sometime malicious contempt and criticism, even from conservative havens like Fox news. The question here is whether or not Trump is correct in his assessment of the news media; as a amateur historian, the question is far more complex whether they are the enemy or pillar of liberty.
The prominent American newspaper man back at the turn of the century, William Randolph Hearst, is quoted as saying "You furnish the pictures and I’ll furnish the war." After the sinking of the battleship USS Maine in Havana (which turned out to be a engine explosion, not a mine), the United States declared war against Spain and took most of it's territory in the Caribbean and the Pacific.
In the AMC historical drama "Turn", the character of James Rivington, a newspaper man in New York, used intelligence reports articles in his paper before the events happened. We later learn the tragic past of the usually jovial Rivington, his paper was attacked at the onset of the war by rebels after publishing articles to give a case for both sides. Unfortunately this still happens today as media outlets are forced to pick a side rather than simply report and provide a forum for different opinions.
At the end of the day, however, what is the main agenda of news and media outlets, beyond their political ones; money. There is more money in over dramatizing the news and pundit tugging on people's emotions than simply sitting down and reporting. If anything, Trump is own enemy in this case, not the media, his tweets and demeanor provide enough ammunition that it's equivalent to a gold mine.
So is the media the enemy? Senator Lindsey Graham said best (and the only time I will agree with him), it's not the enemy, "they are a pain in the ass."
Sources:
http://www.iancfriedman.com/?p=29
