Third Media Reflection

Hannah O
Hannah O
Sep 9, 2018 · 3 min read

This past Wednesday, following the New York Times publishing an anonymous opinion article (or “op-ed”) from someone claiming to be a senior official in the Trump administration, Dana Lind, a reporter for the popular news site Vox, posted an article explaining the op-ed and its implications. Lind’s explanation in through in her analysis of the op-ed itself and what the author was saying, as well as including the reactions of the White House as well as a few notes about what some people are theorizing in terms of the author. Lind includes many perspectives in her explainer, both conservative and liberal, allowing both sides to have a voice in her writing. As well as explaining the op-ed, Lind also details what publishing an anonymous article, that doesn’t share much new information, means for the Times. Lind’s article is an example of good quality media because it answers many of the questions people, including myself, who may not be very familiar with journalism and different sources might have about the op-ed. Additionally, Lind focuses less on the theories of who the author might be, and more on how the anonymous author’s case affects the Trump administration and adds to what the public already knew about what goes on in the White House.

A few days ago, FOX News reporter Alex Pappas wrote about the Senate hearing of Supreme Court Justice candidate Judge Brett Kavanaugh that is currently taking place, as a Senate committee questions Judge Kavanaugh leading up to the vote that will decide if he will join the Supreme Court. Judge Kavanaugh was nominated for the open chair on the Supreme Court by President Trump after Justice Anthony Kennedy retired earlier this year. FOX News is well known to be biased to the right, and this article is no different. Pappas quotes multiple Republican senators who say they are confident that Judge Kavanaugh will be confirmed to the Supreme Court as he is a “stellar nomination” and perfect for the job. Despite these claims being made multiple times throughout the article, nowhere does Pappas explain why. At the very end of the article, a reference to Kavanaugh’s past work as a lawyer and judge is made, but his views and opinions and the important legal cases he would be deciding as a Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court are never shared. Additionally, the article allows a Democrat or Independent or explain why they believe Kavanaugh should or should not be appointed to the Supreme Court, merely explaining how the Democrats are just wasting precious time and disrespecting Judge Kavanaugh with their questions, despite it being one of the many jobs of a Senator to decide whether a candidate is fit for the Supreme Court or not. Ultimately, an article that isn’t marked at all as an opinion article serves to be nothing more than just that, or propaganda to build the confidence of FOX’s conservative audience that they will have another Republican on the Supreme Court.

Sources

Lind, Dara. “The New York Times’s Trump-Bashing Op-Ed from a Senior Trump Official, Explained.” Vox, Vox, 5 Sept. 2018, www.vox.com/2018/9/5/17824538/new-york-times-who-is-senior-official-trump-op-ed.

Pappas, Alex. “Kavanaugh Avoids Dem Traps as Chaotic Hearing Winds down, Confirmation Vote Looms.” Fox News, FOX News Network, 7 Sept. 2018, www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/09/07/kavanaugh-avoids-dem-traps-as-chaotic-hearing-winds-down-confirmation-vote-looms.html.

    Hannah O

    Written by

    Hannah O

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