Letter: Vilifying the press harms democracy

When the public is conditioned to see the press as liars, who will people believe when the chips are down, i.e., when the press and an office holder disagree about the truth of a matter?

Issues can be weighty: a national security question, damage done in an environmental accident, alleged corruption in an agency. Will such disagreements be closely examined, or dismissed, if the press is habitually viewed as dishonest?

I've never seen a president or presidential candidate attack reporters and news outlets on the scale Donald Trump does.

Trump's stage presence at thank-you rallies is relevant. There's the entrance and accompanying music that praises America. It's like an old-time religious revival. His audience responds with fervor.

Trump is a master manipulator of crowds.

John and Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King evoked strong audience response. But significantly, they called on people's 'better angels,” rather than vilifying targets. Trump's branding mantra for the press is 'Turn around, folks. Look at ‘em. The dishonest media.” (Boos and catcalls.) Some reporters confess to feeling queasy about the hostile reaction repeatedly evoked in crowds toward them at Trump rallies.

We have constitutional safeguards. But the role of the Fourth Estate (the press/media) still is vital to protecting freedom of information and holding power responsible.

Criticizing the press is sometimes legitimate. But a strategy that broadly demonizes the Fourth Estate is different and undermines democracy.

Linda Svoboda

Cedar Rapids