The landscape of news distribution has dramatically shifted, particularly highlighted by the unexpected outcomes of the 2024 election where Donald Trump clinched both the popular vote and the presidency. This unexpected victory has highlighted a profound schism between the narratives propagated by traditional media and the underlying currents of public opinion, a phenomenon that Tim Graham of the Media Research Center’s NewsBusters has meticulously dissected. The 2024 election not only challenged the prognostications of many in the media but also underscored the growing influence of social media platforms in shaping public discourse and information flow.
In this era, platforms like X, formerly known as Twitter, have transcended their initial role as mere social networking sites to become central hubs for news, political discussion, and real-time information sharing. X’s capacity to facilitate direct communication between politicians, journalists, and the public has democratized information dissemination, allowing for a more unfiltered stream of news and opinions. This shift has been both empowering and chaotic, as it bypasses traditional gatekeepers of information, enabling stories and perspectives to surface that might otherwise remain obscure or marginalized.
X has redefined the boundaries of journalism, public engagement, and political strategy. This platform has not only reflected but also influenced the electorate’s mood, often providing a more immediate and visceral snapshot of public sentiment than conventional polling or media analysis. Through this lens, we explore the implications for media credibility, the future of journalism, and how political campaigns are adapting to this new reality where a tweet can have more impact than a headline.
MRC Newsbusters, Tim Graham, November 22, 2024: Is It the End of the Big Media Era?
The 2024 election results certainly came as a surprise to the national media. They spent the last few weeks of the campaign wildly speculating about how Donald Trump wouldn’t accept the results and it would be complete chaos. Instead, Trump won the popular vote and they all had to follow their own norms and accept the results in an orderly fashion.
So then the media had to think about the unthinkable: doesn’t anyone care about our “news” anymore? How could our relentless anti-Trump messaging fail to land? They had to ponder whether podcasters like Joe Rogan were the wave of the future in influencing voters. They had to moan and whine that “misinformation” spread by Elon Musk’s Twitter ruined all their objectives.
Democracy means the left gets to be ridiculed and rejected, and it’s only just begun.
The Election Surprise
The national media’s shock over Trump’s victory was palpable. After months of speculation about potential chaos, if Trump lost, the reality was quite the opposite. The media had to confront what Tim Graham describes as the “towering tsunami of garbage” they threw at Trump, which not only didn’t prevent his win but might have contributed to a voter backlash (Graham, 2024). This outcome forces traditional media to reflect on their influence and relevance.
The Role of X in Modern News Consumption
X, under Elon Musk’s ownership, has transformed into a dynamic hub for news, often outpacing traditional media in speed and diversity of content.
Real-Time Information: X’s platform allows for immediate dissemination of information, often breaking news before traditional outlets can react. This immediacy has turned it into a primary source for many, especially the younger demographic who, according to Axios.com, are increasingly hard to reach with traditional media methods (Axios, 2024).
Diverse Voices: The platform hosts a variety of voices from all political spectrums, providing an alternative to what some perceive as the monolithic narrative of mainstream media. As Graham points out, the left’s fear of “misinformation” is largely about narratives that challenge their own (Graham, 2024).
Community Interaction: Beyond just broadcasting news, X fosters community engagement through features like Community Notes, where users can add context to posts, enhancing the informational ecosystem with collective intelligence (Trending on X).
The Decline of Traditional Media
Traditional media’s grip on public opinion is weakening:
Distrust: Only 31 percent of Americans trust the press significantly, pushing people towards alternative sources for news (Gallup, as cited by Graham, 2024).
Fragmentation: The rise of “cord-cutters” and the move towards “fractured communities” online signifies a shift away from the one-size-fits-all approach of mainstream media (Axios, 2024).
Political Implications
Despite the decline, traditional media still holds sway in political circles due to ingrained habits and perceived prestige. However, as Graham suggests, there’s an opportunity for conservative media to increase their influence by ensuring conservative voices receive broader access and visibility (Graham, 2024). This could help balance the narrative and expose liberal journalists to conservative perspectives, which they often overlook.
The Irony of “Saving Democracy”
The liberals’ campaign rhetoric about “saving democracy” ironically played into Trump’s hands when the majority voted for him and GOP control. The left’s methods, which included attempts to suppress opposition speech and legal actions against political adversaries, were seen by many as authoritarian. This perception was not lost on voters, leading to a democratic expression that contradicted the left’s narrative (Graham, 2024).
The 2024 election has highlighted a transformative evolution in news consumption and trust. While there are numerous alternatives to platforms like X, it remains the dominant force in capturing the attention of social media users. This dominance has led to X not only filling the void left by traditional media but also redefining the landscape of information exchange and discourse. As legacy media grapples with maintaining their audience, X’s influence in news dissemination is poised to grow, fostering an information ecosystem that is more pluralistic, albeit potentially more chaotic. This change compels not only journalists but also political figures to evolve their strategies or face the risk of being sidelined in their interaction and connection with the electorate.
In this new digital age, democracy is not fading away but is flourishing under the scrutiny of myriad information channels. Here, voices from across the political spectrum, be they conservative or liberal, find a platform to be expressed, debated, and even lampooned, reflecting the vibrant and often tumultuous nature of public discourse today.