Donald Trump, the media and the end of an era? Social media and Israel

by Tom Brennan,

The election of Donald Trump, a non-politician, non-lawyer, never elected to public office and charismatic personality has thrown traditional two-party politics and the mainstream media into frenzy. Perhaps the most obvious result of this election has been a focus on the new technology of social media and what has been called alternative media. President Trump’s ability to relate to a seemingly bypassed and silent majority of voters has put media commentators, hardline socialist politicians and vocal protestors into shock. Social media stats for the election of 2016 almost doubled that of 2012.

Social media, especially Facebook may have been the turning point in American elections according to stats from the Pew Research Center. Social media has also become a significant weapon in the arsenal of Israel as well. The growing number of groups and sites for direct communication to audiences is proof. Israel’s news media has recognized this and the traditional newspapers either embrace this trend or suffer the consequences. Israel has one of the best educated and techno-savvy populations on earth and seeks facts not “fake news”. ISIS, Al Qaeda and other Jihadist groups have embraced social media for recruiting and propaganda. A mix of sophisticated and crude messages is sent to organized cells and lone wolf Jihadists. The results are violence and death.

First of all, let me explain my viewpoint and from where I am coming. My collage major in the 1980’s was mass communication. This was the time when basic computers were still in a primitive state and the internet was essentially a closed system for the exchange of data, findings and scientific communications by a select few. I saw in the 1980-90 period a drastic change in the public’s attitude towards, use of and acceptance of online sources. The “average “person I saw as a public library administrator was quick to learn and could work independently at an increasingly rapid pace. The first big mistake by the Clinton/Obama faction in the 2016 election was borne of their essential arrogance. Both Obama and Clinton have assembled around themselves advisors who are the sole sources of input and support. Neither has included opposing opinions or observances. Obama in particular with his pseudo-academic stance have only utilized academics to promote and support his questionable actions. Jonathan Gruber and others have been employed to develop and promote Obama programs and actions. The totally inappropriate statements during the Michael Brown/ Ferguson and Baltimore manufactured racial incidents by the President were not completely inaccurate, later proven false by evidence in trials but inflamed a racial situation which caused attacks on police, persons and property in many cities. A popular media presented these assumptions as fact and even further distorted the truth. Israel has seen the same one-sided campaign tactics as well.

Today’s broadcast media has no solid relationship to the journalism of Edward R. Murrow, Huntley & Brinkley, even Walter Cronkite. An examination of the “credentials” of many of NBC, MSNBC and CNN’s commentators will disclose a lack of traditional journalistic training or experience. In fact most are former operatives for Democrat politicians. No objectivity is to be found here. Then television medium depends on presentation, not facts. The host can look straight into the camera and make a statement which they expect the viewer to accept as factual. To quote Prof. Jonathan Gruber, the media and administration depends on “the stupidity of the American voter (or viewer)” to accept verbatim the statements made by the presentation. The internet has cancelled that. The arrogance of the networks and the politicians collapsed within itself as they spoke and listened only to themselves, ignoring the reality that the missing audience was far ahead of them in fact-checking and enraged at the disrespect “the deplorables” shown to them.

The President has a particular gift of genuineness. Like Ronald Reagan, he has been ridiculed for his career background (Reagan as an actor). But Trump’s ability to be “real” and passionate about what he says is exactly what catapulted Ronald Reagan into being perhaps the most effective President of modern times (the fall of the USSR, an economic boom of unprecedented proportions and a legacy that few others can match). Whether you like him or not, Trump is real and makes an impression as genuine in his beliefs. Unlike Obama, whose passionless lectures and arrogant attitude have made a mockery of the United States as well as a “foreign policy” which is yet to be defined after 8 years of retreat, apology and a demoralization of the military which made the “deplorables” seethe?

The basic premise of the election of 2016 is that traditional politics has been made null and void by an informed electorate that no longer attaches credibility or veracity to the major news networks, their commentators and especially to the politicians they represent. No one is listening. No one believes you. That is the message. The unknown elements are now how President Trump will outflank a spurned network system, a vicious and devious defeated party and keep those who have placed trust and dare we say, hope, in a new administration. Social media and the previous alternative media have arrived. Only a fool will underestimate the participative audience of active and interactive users.

Share this page with your friends

Follow News from Jerusalem