LA Times columnist calls for an end to ‘both-siderism’ news coverage

October 20, 2021

By Don Irvine

There may still be some journalists that believe that their job is to cover the news fairly, accurately, and objectively, but as far as Los Angeles Times columnist Jackie Calmes is concerned, journalists should favor one side over the other in their reporting.

In her latest column titled, “Why journalists are failing the public with ‘both-siderism’ in political coverage,” Calmes said that “journalistic pressure” to produce seemingly balanced stories prevents journalists from reporting on what she called “the new truth.”

“To the extent, then, that journalists and pundits focus critically on President Biden and Democrats and give short shrift to Republicans’ obstructions — as if the cancer of Trumpism was in remission, if not cured — that indeed distorts reality and disserves readers, listeners and viewers,” Calmes wrote.

Calmes was highly critical of Republicans, warning that “democracy is literally at stake” as the main reason for election law reforms enacted in several states this year.

“This is a Republican Party that is not serious about governing or addressing the nation’s actual problems, as opposed to faux ones like critical race theory,” Calmes wrote.

“To the extent, then, that journalists and pundits focus critically on President Biden and Democrats and give short shrift to Republicans’ obstructions — as if the cancer of Trumpism was in remission, if not cured — that indeed distorts reality and disserves readers, listeners and viewers,” wrote Calmes.

Calmes repeatedly criticized Republicans, warning that “democracy is literally at stake” surrounding the GOP’s recent election laws.

“This is a Republican Party that is not serious about governing or addressing the nation’s actual problems, as opposed to faux ones like critical race theory,” Calmes wrote.

Calmes, like many of her liberal media colleagues, seem obsessed with the fact that former President Trump continues to be extremely popular with Republican voters while President Biden–who they gave complete cover to during the election–is plummeting in the polls and has consistently bungled policy decisions of a historic nature in less than nine months on the job.  She is also taking aim at those few in the liberal media that have actually been trying to do their jobs by reporting on the Biden administration’s failures much to the consternation of the Democrat Party.

Both-siderism died a long time ago, it’s just that the liberal media wanted the public to believe they were actually practicing it for their own credibility’s sake.

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