When former President Donald Trump held a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania last month, the New York Times headline skimmed over his return to the location of the assassination attempt and focused on his repetitive speech, while Breitbart News covered the event with exclusive photos, a live video, and five articles, saying “Supporters Rally for 45th President.”

As the divide between liberals and conservatives grows with each election, media outlets increasingly favor a political side. Large news outlets have become more liberal and progressive, and conservatives who are tired of the “fake news” have turned to other sources.

This division of media into liberal and conservative outlets does not improve reporting. Rather, it caters biased information to both groups, convincing each that it is entirely correct in its opinions and stereotypes, furthering the American political divide.

Over the last 20 years, conservatives have founded outlets such as the Daily Wire, Breitbart News Network, and The American Conservative in an effort to provide information that is not filtered through a liberal lens. Completely abandoning left-leaning media, however, only worsens America’s political state.

Among notable organizations hiring 2023 graduates, Hillsdale College’s 2023 Graduate Placement Report listed places such as the National Review, the Alliance Defending Freedom, and the office of Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, all of which are strongly conservative. 

Media figures occasionally breach the divide, such as Catholic pro-lifer Charlie Camosey who writes for left-leaning magazine The Atlantic, or Democrat Jessica Tarlov who stars on Fox News talk show “The Five.” Though some speculated Tarlov would not last long, views increased 21% the year after Tarlov joined the show, indicating the value of having a politically mixed news team.

The Butler rally showed the problem of reporting from a political stance. It’s not an issue that Breitbart News so thoroughly covered the rally, though perhaps it was excessive. What’s concerning is that it filled its front page with articles revolving around Trump, including his visit to Georgia in response to Hurricane Helene and neglected to mention the similar visit of the sitting vice president and former Democratic presidential candidate. 

Meanwhile, the New York Times appropriately followed its coverage of the Trump rally with an article titled, “Vice President Kamala Harris Visited North Carolina to Check on Hurricane Helene Relief Efforts.” 

Conservative media outlets understandably focus on stories left-leaning media may misrepresent. CNN’s headline after the assassination attempt, “Secret Service Rushes Trump Off Stage After He Falls at Rally,” demonstrates mainstream media’s gross distortion of news, turning an attempt on a former president’s life into a political opportunity.

Nevertheless, Breitbart’s treatment of Hurricane Helene was also part of a political game. While it should have covered all newsworthy stories relating to the hurricane, it provided a one-sided version of current events, touting the candidacy of Trump.

This is of no use to its consumers. Readers who want an accurate grasp of events must follow several news outlets to get the full story. Many readers will be glad to hear a version of the news that aligns with their political views but will also remain blissfully ignorant.

There is no problem with founding news outlets, whether to break away from the liberal agenda, or simply to provide coverage from smaller media outlets rather than mainstream media giants. In fact, having many, smaller news sources prevents large corporations from blindfolding an entire population into believing a carefully-tailored script.

But conservatives should not leave left-leaning media behind altogether. The less that conservatives brave CNN studios and editorial boards of The New York Times, the more such outlets will propagate solely liberal perspectives.

Yes, intern for the Daily Wire and Fox News. But consider bringing the same skills to the New York Times. Politically divided news outlets will only continue to divide America.

 

Francesca Cella is a sophomore studying the liberal arts.