In the face of tragedy, mainstream media seems to have lost its compass—or perhaps their glasses—when reporting on recent terror-related incidents across the nation. Over the past two weeks, Americans have witnessed alarming attacks that have threatened public safety, yet it seems the media’s primary focus is on cosmetic portrayals of the perpetrators rather than the heinous acts themselves.
Let’s begin with the incident from Old Dominion University in Virginia, where a convicted ISIS supporter opened fire, tragically taking the life of an ROTC officer. Thankfully, a courageous cadet stepped in, fatally stabbing the gunman and averting further disaster. Despite the FBI labeling this as terrorism, certain media outlets point fingers elsewhere, suggesting President Trump’s administration should bear the blame. Accusations fly about the White House’s alleged lack of preparedness and interest in national security, when perhaps the conversation should revolve around stopping radical extremism.
Meanwhile, the Great Media Tug-O-War continues in New York, where two men inspired by ISIS attempted to execute an attack by detonating homemade bombs at a protest. How did some media giants characterize this obvious act of terror? By painting a heartwarming picture of two Pennsylvania teenagers allegedly just out for a normal day, as if they’d tripped into the making of a catastrophe during unseasonably warm weather. The narrative was eventually corrected, but not before leaving readers to wonder if they’d tuned into a comedy of errors instead of the evening news.
The media’s misplaced sympathies don’t stop domestically. Internationally, when Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was assassinated, prominent news outlets described him in terms that would fit an endearing grandfather rather than an influential figurehead. Words about his easy smile and poetic hobbies paint a picture more suited to a neighborhood book club than a leader with a complex geopolitical history. One could almost imagine a cozy fireside chat, rather than a report on international relations.
Back home, controversy brews over a deported Maryland father, as news anchors repeatedly and dramatically stress his fatherly status over the legal complexities of his case. It seems the scriptwriters may be vying for a drama award, not content with merely informing the public.
It’s astonishing how some in the legacy media continuously downplay or mischaracterize significant threats. There’s a peculiar kind of alchemy at work here, transforming dangerous individuals into misunderstood characters, as if trying to turn lead into comedic gold. But American viewers are demanding authenticity, not theater. So, until mainstream media begins reporting in earnest about the actual dangers that America faces, their credibility might remain on shaky ground, like a script without a punchline.
