Overview

• Eugene Daniels, WHCA President, declared at the annual dinner that journalists are 'not the opposition,' 'not the enemy of the people,' and 'not the enemy of the state.'
• Right-wing commentators argue that true journalism should oppose the state, labeling Daniels’s remarks as evidence of media alignment with government interests.
• Former Axios reporter Alex Thompson admitted journalists failed to adequately report on President Biden's cognitive decline, acknowledging its impact on public trust in the media.
• Conservative outlets like The Federalist and Townhall accused mainstream media of bias, censorship, and prioritizing political agendas over accountability.
• A Gallup poll from October 2024 revealed nearly 70% of Americans distrust the media to report news fully, accurately, and fairly, underscoring the ongoing crisis of media credibility.