How Media Is Empowering Trumpists: A Media Ecologist's View of January 6, 2025

Depending on their medium of choice that day Americans and the world were presented with radically divergent stories amp8211 from a quotrightful civilian uprisingquotamp160against socialist forces that were stealing an election to a quotradical rebellionquotamp160seeking to override 250 years of democratic process From a quotmentally challenged presidentquotamp160supported by zealots leading a coup d39amp233tat to a quottrue saviorquotamp160leading a rightful brigade of believers predestined to save the nationOur media culture thrives on this widening gap among a frightened population The multiplex of media outlets creates chaos that enables empowers and validates any view no matter how radical or absurd that generates ratings and a social following The media ecosystem underpinned economically by universal distribution and advertiser support promotes and reflects the anger hostility fear uncertainty and need for leadership that chaos requires Yes Donald Trump gathered the forces and gave them permission to attack the democratic process but they were prepared inspired organized and supported by media companies social media activismamp160and pundits who continue to amplify his messageDr Neil Postman39s Amusing Ourselves to Death Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business anticipated this reality Netflix39 Don39t Look Up Adam McKay39s biting view of media influence reinforces Postman39s and Marshall McLuhan39s understanding that the media is not only the message but also our greatest threatTruth and facts are defined by those telling the story Reliving and litigating the 2020 election and January 6 through Congressional hearings and criminal trials is counterproductive McLuhan in his 1989 book The Global Village wrote that quotchanges are occurring so rapidly that the rearview mirror does not work anymore amp8211 at jet speed rearview mirrors are not very usefulquot McLuhan39s understanding of media is obviously far more relevant today than 1989 and more compelling today than even 2020Congress and the courts may ultimately prove successful in applying some form of justice but the outcome will not establish a singular January 6 story a universally accepted historic truth or one set of facts Just the opposite For every action there39s a reaction The reaction to continued attention on January 6 by Congress and the courts is equal attention to views of the political opposition The media is already presenting multiple perspectives on the quottruthsquot being uncovered by CongressWhile countervailing media voices battle for advertiserfunded ratings and views future elections and their perceived legitimacy are being contested at the community level with little media coverage Across the spectrum of leftleaning media their primary story remains January 6amp160and the Trump legacy Rightleaning media by comparison are educating their audiences on voter repression and preparation for successfully contesting future elections regardless of factsPostman McLuhan HG Wells Aldous Huxleyamp160and other media ecologists understood that autocratic political forces are most likely to gain control of media during chaotic times and by extension control over politics culture society and business Roger Ailes built Fox News on the principles of media ecology which were further advanced by his disciple Steve Bannon Trump39s rise to power two decades in the making was built on Ailes39 workThe use of media to advance propaganda while simultaneously undermining trust in media is a proven political formula While it39s unproductive to build a political platform on litigation of January 6 we can look to media ecology as a guide to the futureIn that context the forces behind Trumpism have been advancing candidates who sustain Trumplike media presence and attention which requires controversy quottheaterquotamp160and social media skills Although there is no clear alternative to Trump as the next Republican standardbearer he or she is likely to emerge from the farright Republican mainstream and once identified the party will align behind his or her candidacyCamouflaged by continued media coverage of January 6 Trump39s followers have focused on state and local elections With Trumpism maintaining an unassailable foundation of 35 of likely voters it will not surprise any media ecologist if a thirdparty centrist presidential candidate possibly an athlete emerges to draw votes from both parties and assure the Trump faction can ultimately dictate an electoral college voteThose who desire a different outcome in 2024 and on January 6 2025 must refocus away from the politics of January 6 While Joe Biden proved to be the right Democratic candidate at the right time to defeat Trump it39s unlikely Biden can once again coalesce multiple constituencies plus antiTrump voters unless Trump is again the candidate truly unlikely The 2022 election will be pivotal but to win in 2024 Democrats must turn to the media ecology playbookWhile no politician has dominated the media as effectively as Trump since FDR and arguably Ronald Reagan it39s essential that the Democratic Party identify a high profile 2024 nominee with powerful media presence Ideally this candidate should be recognized by early 2024 Alternately if no candidate breaks through in the media then the party should use the competition among bland candidates to create as much media attention as possible Whoever is nominated for president and the VP choice must be able to legitimately and powerfully advocate for a platform that directly confronts the far right platform ie prowomen39s rights proscience provoting rights defined immigration reform promarijuana projustice reform aggressive climate change action college loan relief free education from 2 to 20 years old tax reform etc Clone the Bernie Sanders campaign without internal party conflictThis platform will only be as effective as the presidential candidate is in advocating for it through powerful compelling and controversial media presenceMy media ecology perspective leads me to believe that leader if one emerges is already a known and popular celebrity is actively engaged in political advocacy has a large and active social media following and has the personal authority to successfully launch a fight against Roger Ailes39 legacy and Mark Zuckerberg39s faux neutrality Your thoughts

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How Media Is Empowering Trumpists: A Media Ecologist's View of January 6, 2025

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Jack Myers

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