A Whitened, Compromising American Media

The media is always one of the last bastions against the rise of fascism.

In the fight against American Fascism, the American media waved the white flag as soon as the president was reelected.

The cohosts of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, formerly staunch and vocal opponents of the president, made a hasty pilgrimage to Mar-a-Lago to meet with the then president-elect.

Numerous media outlets are run by supporters of the president.

Currently, many high-profile media members are either stepping away from their positions, or being forced out of them, resulting in a largely White and male media that shows little desire to hold the president and his Republican administration accountable.

MSNBC is one of the most progressive news outlets, and its personnel is almost uniformly critical of the current administration, yet it is making what seems to be conciliatory moves toward the White House.

Joy Reid, host of one of the most popular shows on MSNBC, was fired, and broadcast her last show Monday evening. While declining ratings are given as a reason for the change, “Morning Joe” program ratings have dropped precipitously, but there has been no indication that the show is in danger of cancellation.

Reid has been one of the most vocal media members against the new administration, and it is difficult to see this move being strictly motivated by ratings.

MSNBC has also lost significant personnel and is making other programming changes.

Andrea Mitchell, a 17-year network veteran left her show this month.

Alex Wagner, an Asian woman, is being relegated to a correspondent after being a weeknight host on the network.

Katie Phang, another Asian woman who hosted a Saturday program, is also being relegated to a correspondent’s role.

While Reid’s show is being replaced by a panel including a Black male, Black female, and a Latina female, there is little coincidence about Reid’s firing, the timing coming as MSNBC is being separated from NBC News.

Consolidation and changes are a normal part of the media landscape, particularly when outlets are being cast off or sold.

But given that Reid is one of the most outspoken media members about the new administration, it is easy to see that this move is being made to make the network more attractive to perspective (White) viewers.

While MSNBC will maintain its progressive leanings, the voluntary and involuntary moves of key personnel speak to some leaving a sinking ship while other crew members are being tossed overboard.

Meanwhile, Norah O’Donnell just left the anchor desk at CBS Evening News.

Lester Holt just announced that he is leaving the anchor desk at NBC Nightly News.

Regardless of any public statements these journalists might make, it is no coincidence that so many prominent female and Black media members are leaving their positions, being reassigned, or have been outright fired.

Some are leaving because their already difficult jobs have become more difficult because they are dealing with an openly hostile, dissembling administration.

Some are leaving because they were aware that their networks were capitulating to the administration.

Those like Reid, Wagner, and Phang who have been fired or reassigned are being moved out in favor of personalities who aren’t yet tainted by outspokenness.

The president and his supporters will always be hostile to the media unless the media serves its purposes (Fox News, Newsmax, and other right-wing media outlets).

But it will particularly be offput when the media is not only unreceptive, but unreceptive and non-White.

We need more media voices, regardless of color or gender, bold and brave enough to challenge the administration.

What we are seeing is a calculated Whitening of the media.

A Whitened media meant to match the overwhelmingly White administration it covers.