Did we get snookered today?
By: Lisa Thinks
Tags: Propaganda, Journalism, Cnn, Fox News

Today marks the end of the tradition of Presidential Daily Briefings

Sometimes we are so engaged in day-to-day activities that something significant happens and it passes relatively unnoticed. Today may have been one of those times.

Within the context of the shutdown longest shutdown in history, the Mueller investigation, and the Covington High School students in Washington DC, this went acknowledged but relatively unnoticed. It is as though it happened and has been accepted without discussion because no one had time or bandwidth but I think we need to stop and examine this more carefully because this should not pass unnoticed and unquestioned.

It started out with a tweet. In today’s environment, it seems like so much starts with a tweet. In fact, in the history of Trump tweets, this one barely registered but it may have marked a bigger shift than we realize.

I understand that these daily briefings have become less and less fruitful. They have always been contentious. Many administrations have been frustrated by the media but they understood the valuable role the media places in our democracy.

The daily briefings were opportunities for the White House to distribute their messages for the day and for the media to ask questions and get administrations on the record. This administration has been remarkably bad at staying on message and even being consistent with the messages given. In one tweet Trump can and has derailed the entire media plan for the day or even worse contradicted his media representatives immediately after they issued a statement supposedly representing the position of the administration.

While this has been frustrating and aggravating, it has also been revealing. An administration that can not stay on point does not really have a point. When they move the needle, they cause angst but it means that the needle is moving — very different than having and knowing only one version and not knowing that there are 3 or 4 or 5 versions that are in contention.

And this is what is odd. Most White Houses, heck even more mid to large size companies, manage their communications closely. Their level of success is a reflection of the organizations internal communication, level of organizational discipline and management. So, while we were getting different versions or different positions on an issue and the media was trying to get to the truth, perhaps more time needed to be focused on the real story. The extent to which the White House internal communication is dysfunctional, lacks discipline and management. And what this means for other things going on that they are not being asked about or that are not visible should be cause for concern. For this reason alone, there should be daily briefings. Even if Sanders and just walks out to look at the media for 10 minutes. Even if she refuses to talk, she is making a statement.

Instead though, as time has progressed, these briefings have been less and less common.

For these reasons perhaps, this did not set off warning bells in the media community but may be it should have.

Because there were a couple of other things that we lost today. We lost the ability of all media to have public access to administration spokespeople and get them on the record.

With that gone, Trump and his spokespeople will pick and choose when and to whom they will speak. News organizations that curry favor will have more access — they will become the ones who get the “scoop” on new announcements. Those who favorably report on the President will be given more and special access. I am amazed the extent to which Fox and even the 700 Club has more access to the administration than other news organizations. This will get even worse. Add to that Fox just launched a pay version of their network (Fox Nation). It would be remarkable indeed if Trump’s interviews were broadcast first (and possibly only) on Fox Nation. What would happen to the President being accountable to all the people?

This will corrupt news. News organizations may feel compelled to be a little softer on the President and even push stories to show that they are a President friendly environment. A safe space. This may driven by breaking news competitiveness within the news ecosystem and from the financial arm. Breaking news, getting the scoop, attracts viewers. Viewers equals ratings and ratings equals advertising money. Advertising money equal profits and profits equal share holder value. So there will be pressures on the news organizations in different ways. These influences may be subtle but like water, they will wear away these institutions and weaken them.

The Daily Briefings gave reporters from many different organization an opportunity to ask questions. Even if the information was incomplete or inaccurate. It provided insight into the administration. And may be that is the problem. They are, however, working for ALL Americans and they represent this entire country. They really should not have a choice in this. Right?