The Responsibility of Local Journalism this Fall
Why objectivity won’t mean neutrality when covering Trump
By Claudia Gohn
Donald Trump Rally in the Bronx on May 23
This November, voters will head to the polls to cast their ballots, deciding who will become our president. Before then will be months of campaigning, tension, and speculation, much of which will be covered by news outlets and publications. But this reporting can get a bit sticky—the 2024 race between former President Donald Trump and the new democratic candidate isn’t all tax breaks and healthcare. Additional layers pile on concerning Trump’s criminal conviction, ethical conundrums, and challenges against the peaceful democratic process.
Between Trump’s indictment in federal election interference alleging his participation in January 6th, his recent conviction in connection to paying hush money to Stormy Daniels, his sympathy for white supremecists in Charlottesville in 2017, and his attacks on the media claiming any bad press is “fake news,” Trump has gone from an unlikely candidate to now posing as a frontrunner in the upcoming election as he continues to perpetuate anti-democratic and anti-media rhetoric as part of his platform.
This poses a challenge for journalists. How do we approach coverage of Trump and his campaign as he spreads misinformation without adherence to the democratic process? How do local journalists, in particular, cover their community which might be threatened by one or both presidential candidates? We report—objectively and fairly, but also vehemently and ruthlessly. We tell the truth, even if that is perceived as bias, because objectivity doesn’t necessarily mean neutrality.
Of course, journalists must pursue this investigation and commitment to holding institutions of power accountable while also remaining impartial and equitable in our coverage. The Society of Professional Journalists puts it this way: “Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived,” and “remain free of associations that may compromise integrity or damage credibility.”
Last year, AP News conducted a poll, which they detailed in an article as finding that Americans believe the media is contributing to a greater political divide. The piece identifies that the poll found that “nearly three-quarters of U.S. adults say the news media is increasing political polarization in this country, and just under half say they have little to no trust in the media’s ability to report the news fairly and accurately.”
Us journalists must find a way to maintain trust from our readers while also holding politicians accountable.
Yesterday, July 21, President Joe Biden announced that he no longer accepts his nomination to run in the presidential election this fall. While he has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to be the new democratic nominee, no official selection has been made. But whoever the confirmed candidate is, journalists should still thoroughly report and cover the could-be president.
But objectivity does not simply mean covering both candidates “equally”—it means covering them truthfully and persistently. It doesn’t mean publishing the same amount of articles about each candidate. It means covering events and actions that are newsworthy. When Trump is convicted of a felony, that is newsworthy. When Biden mistakes Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy for Russia’s President Putin, that is newsworthy.
Local journalists in particular must take on this responsibility and refuse to look away. Presidential elections and decisions made by presidents affect the communities we serve. In November 2023, for example, an icy silence stood between Joe Biden and Mayor Eric Adams when the New York City mayor called for the president to aid in alleviating the local migrant crisis. As of this morning, Adams has endorsed Harris as the democratic nominee. But in the case of a Trump presidency, both Adams and Trump, who have made immigration central to their legacies, pose a threat to New York City’s thriving immigrant communities.
If we say what is newsworthy and also inform the public of the dangers of another Trump presidency, or the realities that would have come with another Biden term, then that is fulfilling the mission of journalism—to bear witness, to document, and to inform the public as they participate in the democratic system. We owe it to you, the reader, to tell the truth, even if it makes us seem biased.
Claudia Gohn is a co-founder and co-editor-in-chief at Grassroots. She can be reached at claudia@grassrootsmagazinenyc.com