Okay, here’s a rewritten and expanded version of the article, formatted with Markdown:
Turmoil in Mainstream Media: Are Activist Staffers Undermining Credibility and Profitability?
Mainstream news organizations are grappling with internal strife, facing what some critics describe as an "inmates-running-the-asylum" scenario. A growing disconnect between business-minded executives and increasingly progressive employees is creating tension and, according to observers, threatening the very foundation of objective journalism. This conflict manifests in public rebukes of management, disagreements over editorial direction, and a perceived erosion of intellectual diversity within newsrooms.
The heart of the issue lies in the perception that many newsrooms have become echo chambers of liberal groupthink, where activist journalists prioritize their own ideologies over the objective reporting of facts. This has led to situations where staff members openly criticize their employers, challenge editorial decisions, and even attempt to influence hiring practices to further solidify their worldview.
One prominent example cited is the backlash faced by owners of major publications like The Washington Post and The Los Angeles Times for ending the long-standing tradition of endorsing presidential candidates. This seemingly minor change, viewed by management as a move towards impartiality, sparked considerable internal dissent, highlighting the deep-seated political leanings within the newsrooms. Further fueling the fire were subsequent changes to the opinion sections of these newspapers, perceived by some as an attempt to introduce more diverse perspectives and challenge the prevailing liberal narrative.
MSNBC, a cable news network known for its progressive slant, has also experienced its share of internal turmoil. Several of the network’s biggest stars have publicly criticized management decisions, further exposing the growing divide between on-air talent and corporate leadership. The hiring and subsequent swift firing of former Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel as a contributor served as a lightning rod for internal conflict, with prominent anchors like Rachel Maddow, Nicolle Wallace, and Jen Psaki openly disavowing the move. The network ultimately caved to internal pressure, demonstrating the significant influence that staff members wield within the organization.
DePauw University journalism professor Jeffrey McCall believes this lack of intellectual diversity is directly contributing to a decline in news consumption and financial performance. He argues that news consumers, increasingly aware of the ideological biases prevalent in many mainstream outlets, are turning to alternative sources of information, such as confirmation news sources, podcasters, or simply disengaging from the news altogether.
McCall urges media owners to "maintain their courage to reinvent the news industry, restore credibility, and build newsrooms that are committed to fairness and serving audiences, and not the staffers." He suggests that this may require difficult decisions, including "housecleaning of the more activist staffers and replacing them with reporters who understand the higher mission of journalism."
Another incident highlighting this internal struggle involved Martin Varsavsky, a Jewish tech mogul and member of the supervisory board of Axel Springer, the parent company of Politico. Varsavsky publicly criticized Politico for what he perceived as "one sided Hamas support" in its coverage of the conflict between Israel and Gaza. He specifically pointed to an Associated Press report headlined, "Israel hits Gaza with new airstrikes that kill at least 200," arguing that it failed to adequately contextualize the airstrikes as targeting Hamas military leaders and relied on casualty figures provided by Hamas, which he deemed inaccurate. In a since-deleted follow-up, Varsavsky reportedly stated that "most journalists are woke and to the left of the general public" and that "management does not dare to fire them."
Tim Young, a media fellow at the Heritage Foundation, echoes McCall’s concerns, arguing that a "woke work culture, with woke management and a woke human resources department, pushing woke messaging is a recipe for disaster for any business – especially one thats failing, like most liberal publications and networks." He believes that major media organizations have "sunk themselves by focusing on everything but profit over the past decade – and its partially due to their focus on placating the woke, entitled mob they have inside their organizations." Young suggests that a complete overhaul may be necessary for many of these organizations, rather than simply shifting a few staff members or tweaking their strategy.
The trend of journalists clashing with management is not new, but it has become increasingly prevalent in recent years. Examples include the pushback against Los Angeles Times owner Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong’s desire to add conservative voices to the paper’s opinion section, and the departure of Washington Post opinion editor David Shipley following owner Jeff Bezos’ announcement of a revamped opinion page focused on "writing every day in support and defense of two pillars: personal liberties and free markets."
Even within CBS News, internal divisions have surfaced. Left-leaning staffers criticized "CBS Mornings" co-host Tony Dokoupil for a tough but civil interview with progressive author Ta-Nehisi Coates. Dokoupil, who is Jewish, angered colleagues by suggesting that Coates’ book, which is critical of Israel, would "not be out of place in the backpack of an extremist." While CBS leadership initially insisted the interview did not meet "editorial standards," Paramount Global chair Shari Redstone publicly defended Dokoupil, praising his handling of the interview and his demonstration of "civil discourse."
CNN also experienced similar turmoil when staffers, including anchor Christiane Amanpour, publicly criticized then-CEO Chris Licht for giving a primetime town hall event to President Donald Trump. Many CNN staffers felt that Trump did not deserve a platform on the network, and Licht was ultimately fired after failing to regain the faith of his workforce.
NewsBusters managing editor Curtis Houck argues that the liberal media continues to ignore the message sent by Americans at the ballot box. He suggests that "the inmates still believe they have some divine mandate to control what their audiences are force-fed and supposed to believe" and that many are "deathly terrified of their far-left base." Houck concludes that this internal dynamic is "maddening and no way any serious person runs a company, especially outside the political realm."
The future of mainstream media hangs in the balance. Whether these organizations can successfully navigate the internal tensions and restore credibility with a broader audience remains to be seen. The ability to balance diverse perspectives, prioritize objective reporting, and resist the pressure of internal activism will be crucial for their survival in an increasingly polarized and fragmented media landscape.
