Last week, House Speaker Mike Johnson and senior House Republican leaders conducted a press briefing addressing the potential government shutdown, targeting an audience labeled as “new media.” Coverage of this briefing was published by the Washington Reporter, a news outlet established by GOP operatives. The article described the event as an effort to clarify the Republicans’ messaging directly to the public, and mainstream media participants were reportedly not included (no comments were received from Speaker Johnson’s office).
The term “new media” seems to have evolved from referring to platforms like The Huffington Post and BuzzFeed to a broader category now encompassing outlets and personalities aligned with right-wing ideologies. This category includes news websites, content creators, and even traditional media formats, suggesting a shift in how conservative voices are disseminated.
Historically, the Trump administration had promoted “new media” by designating press briefing seats for such outlets, facilitating access for a wide array of conservative creators. However, restrictions on traditional media representatives have increased, such as changes made by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who removed major legacy reporters from dedicated Pentagon workspaces and replaced them with outlets like One America News and Breitbart, leading to new rules restricting unauthorized reporting.
This approach raises questions about the implications for traditional journalism, particularly in light of recent corporate acquisitions like Bari Weiss’s The Free Press by Paramount and her new leadership role at CBS News. Observers have raised concerns regarding her suitability for this position, given her lack of television experience and the shift in content strategy potentially leaning towards digital-first formats. Despite the notoriety of her publication, the challenge remains: how will The Free Press maintain its contrarian ethos under corporate ownership, and what impact might such consolidations have on news media landscape and journalism?
Source: https://www.theverge.com/column/799904/new-media-is-just-right-wing-media