As Trump returns to the White House, the media landscape is shifting dramatically
Washington: So, Trump is back in the White House, and things are looking pretty different this time around. The media scene has changed a lot since his first term. Back in 2016, he had a tough time with the press, but now, it seems like some media companies are ready to play nice.
With all the legal threats and lawsuits flying around, big media companies are scrambling to make nice with Trump. They’re worried about how the new administration might react to their coverage. Plus, people are consuming media differently now, and Trump has a buddy in one of the top social media owners, which gives him a big advantage in shaping the political conversation.
As Trump settles back in, there are three big questions on everyone’s mind. First, will the legal threats silence his critics on TV? Many media companies are already showing they’re less willing to challenge him. For instance, CBS is thinking about settling a lawsuit just to avoid any trouble with the new FCC commissioner.
Then there’s CNN, which has shifted gears since Chris Licht took over. They’ve let go of some of their most vocal anti-Trump hosts and are now acting more cautiously. There’s even talk about moving Jim Acosta to a late-night slot, which has raised eyebrows among staff who think it’s a way to sideline him.
Next up, will new media shake things up in Washington? Trump’s team learned that paying attention to conservative media and YouTubers worked well for them. Now, they want to bring that strategy into the White House. They’re pushing to let new media into the briefing room, hoping to keep their allies close.
Finally, will the Democrats fix their ‘media problem’? With an older president who struggles with digital media, the Democrats have a tough road ahead. While Kamala Harris’ campaign did well online, it wasn’t enough to counter Trump’s appeal, especially among men who don’t follow the news closely.
During Trump’s first term, the chaos from the White House actually helped boost many news organizations. But now, with more people cutting the cord and shifting to digital, mainstream media is struggling to keep up. This week, some Democrats discussed how the changing media landscape has made attention a hot commodity, which has put them at a disadvantage against Trump and Elon Musk.
Some candidates for the Democratic National Committee are suggesting building their own media ecosystem, but it’s unclear if that’ll really help them compete in this new attention-driven world.
