Michael Goodwin: Left-leaning AP is out of step with the rest of the US

New York Post - Apr 20th, 2025
Open on New York Post

The story revolves around the Associated Press (AP) losing its privileged spot in the White House press pool, a decision stemming from its refusal to adopt the Trump administration's mandated terminology change from 'Gulf of Mexico' to 'Gulf of America.' Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt took this opportunity to democratize press access, including new media outlets like podcasts and political influencers, thus diluting the dominance of legacy media outlets. This shift saw all three wire services, including AP, Reuters, and Bloomberg, being placed in a larger rotation alongside 31 other organizations, reducing their access to the president. A federal judge ruled that AP's demotion was unfair but acknowledged the White House's efforts to comply with his order by leveling the playing field among wire services.

The implications of this development are significant, as it challenges the traditional media's monopoly over White House access and highlights the growing tension between the Trump administration and legacy media outlets. The move has sparked a debate over media bias, with claims that legacy media has been unfairly hostile towards Trump while being lenient on the Biden administration. This controversy underscores a broader issue of declining public trust in mainstream media and raises questions about the role of new media in political coverage. The White House's decision represents an attempt to diversify the voices in the media landscape, but it also intensifies the ongoing battle over media independence and government influence.

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

3.4
Unfair Story
Approach with caution

The story presents a provocative critique of legacy media and their access to the White House, raising important issues about media bias and democratization. However, its heavy reliance on rhetorical language and lack of supporting evidence undermine its factual accuracy and balance. The piece is clearly written and engaging, but its one-sided perspective limits its potential to foster meaningful dialogue. While the article addresses timely and relevant topics, its impact is constrained by the absence of diverse viewpoints and verifiable sources. Overall, the story's quality is diminished by its lack of transparency and source credibility, though it remains a significant contribution to ongoing debates about media access and representation.

RATING DETAILS

4
Accuracy

The story presents several factual claims that require verification, such as the assertion that the AP refused to change its stylebook to reflect a name change from 'Gulf of Mexico' to 'Gulf of America' by President Trump. The existence of such an official renaming and the AP's response are not substantiated within the text. Additionally, the claim that Judge Trevor N. McFadden ruled the White House acted in 'good faith' lacks direct citation from court documents, making it difficult to verify. The article also states that the White House is democratizing access to media, but does not provide specific evidence or data to support this claim, such as a list of newly included media outlets. These gaps in evidence and the reliance on rhetorical language diminish the factual accuracy of the story.

3
Balance

The story is heavily skewed towards a conservative perspective, criticizing legacy media and portraying them as biased against Trump while favoring Biden. It lacks representation from the viewpoints of the AP or other legacy media outlets, which could provide a more balanced perspective. The article's language suggests a clear bias, referring to legacy media as having a 'gatekeeper mentality' and 'elite entitlement,' without offering counterarguments or acknowledging any potential biases in newer media outlets being given access. This one-sided presentation limits the story's balance.

5
Clarity

The article is written in a clear and direct style, with a strong narrative voice that communicates the author's perspective. However, the clarity is somewhat compromised by the lack of supporting evidence and the heavy use of rhetorical language, which may confuse readers who are unfamiliar with the topic. The structure is logical, with a clear progression of ideas, but the tone is biased, which affects the overall neutrality and clarity of the piece. Readers seeking a balanced view may find the article's clarity hindered by its one-sided approach.

3
Source quality

The article does not cite any external sources or provide direct quotes from involved parties, such as the AP, the White House, or the federal judge. The lack of diverse and authoritative sources undermines the credibility of the claims made. The piece appears to be an opinion piece rather than a news report, which affects the reliability and impartiality of the information presented. Without clear attribution or engagement with primary sources, the story's source quality is compromised.

2
Transparency

The article lacks transparency in its reporting, as it does not disclose the basis for many of its claims or provide evidence to support its assertions. There is no explanation of the methodology used to gather information, and potential conflicts of interest are not addressed. The author's perspective is clear, but without transparency about how conclusions were reached, the reader is left to question the impartiality of the piece. The absence of context for key claims, such as the alleged media bias, further reduces transparency.

Sources

  1. https://www.allsides.com/news-source/michael-goodwin
  2. https://www.biasly.com/news/michael-goodwin-why-big-leftist-tv-anchors-biting-the-dust-is-a-gain
  3. https://imprimis.hillsdale.edu/2016-election-demise-journalistic-standards/
  4. https://www.theintelligencer.net/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/2017/07/news-media-bias-has-gone-too-far-to-fix/
  5. https://www.conservapedia.com/Liberal_bias