Brendan Carr, the incoming FCC chairman, expressed concern over public distrust in national news media, highlighting ABC News's role in this erosion of trust. In a letter to Disney CEO Bob Iger, he wrote, 'Americans no longer trust the national news media to report fully, accurately, and fairly.' He referenced polling data reflecting public perception and pointed out ABC News's settlement of a defamation suit involving Trump, illustrating the tensions between local and national media.
Carr's letter illustrates a divide between public perceptions of local and national news, as he emphasized local news outlets' trustworthiness. He stated, 'A massive trust divide has emerged between local news outlets and national programmers like ABC.' He further noted that ensuring retransmission consent revenues remains crucial for local broadcasters to maintain operations and provide content that genuinely serves their communities, thus directly addressing the growing disconnect in media trust.
The piece highlights the evolving role of the FCC under Carr, suggesting he may push to influence programming decisions, a departure from historical practices. Stelter remarked, 'Historically, the FCC has not had the ability to influence programming, but Carr seems ready to try.' This hints at potential changes in how media regulation intersects with journalistic integrity and the relationship between corporate ownership and local news.
The ongoing conflict between Trump and major media entities is reinforced through Carr's actions and statements, positioning himself in alignment with Trump’s views on media. The article notes, 'The letter is just the latest salvo in Trump's long-running war on the media, which he has derided as fake news and the enemy of the people.' This underlines a broader narrative of media skepticism and critique from political leadership.
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