Jim VandeHei, co-founder and CEO of Axios, said Elon Musk encouraged social media users to engage in citizen journalism on X at a time when trust in mainstream media is at an all-time low. I was furious that I had encouraged him.
Speaking at the National Press Club last week, VandeHei complained that “everything” journalists do these days is under fire. Part of the reason for the great distrust of mainstream media is the media's longstanding bias against conservatives and President-elect Donald Trump. Despite the loss of confidence, most industry players appear to have no plans to improve their practices.
“It needed to be said, and it needs to continue to be said.”
VandeHei called out Musk by name and said all the billionaire does is sit on an X all day and say, “'We're the media! You're the media!'”
He also addressed Musk directly: “My message to Elon Musk is this: Bulls! You are not the media! You have a blue checkmark, a Twitter handle, and 300 words. You can't become a reporter just by being smart.”
“What we're doing, what journalists are doing, what you're doing in Mississippi, what Al Jazeera is doing in the Middle East. You don't call yourself a reporter! Damn it. That's nonsense! Being a reporter is hard, just like it's really hard! You have to be careful, you have to do the hard work,” he continued. “You have to wake up every day and say, 'I want to be as close to the truth as possible without fear and without favoritism.' You don't do that by popping up on Twitter.”
MSNBC's “Morning Joe” aired VandeHei's remarks on Monday's episode, in which the CEO appeared as a guest. After the video clip finished playing, the entire MSNBC panel applauded VandeHei.
“It had to be said. It must be said. …People on social media who lie every day, every hour, every minute about the news, what you do matters. The New York Times What the wall does is important. Street Journal is important,” host Joe Scarborough said.
A user of The report was quickly debunked. In response to Wall Street Mob's assessment, Musk simply said: answered“that's right.”
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