WaPo media columnist warns journalists ahead of Biden’s first press conference

March 25, 2021

By Don Irvine

Ahead of President Joe Biden’s first solo press conference on Thursday, Washington Post media columnist Margaret Sullivan warned the media about their behavior lest they embarrass him.

“But when President Biden steps to the lectern Thursday, the pressure will also be on the White House press corps themselves, as reporters recalibrate after the tumultuous, misinformation-filled years of Donald Trump to a president who is far less showy and, to date, much more truthful.”

“It’s a major test for news organizations and reporters in covering Biden.”

Less showy and more truthful?  How can Sullivan tell since Biden hasn’t held a press conference since taking office 63 days ago and has avoided answering questions at events relating to the border crisis?

Sullivan downplays the media’s efforts to shed light on the crisis, calling ABC News’s decision to locate their “Powerhouse Roundtable” to the Texas border amounting to nothing more than declaring the subject “Extremely Important,” even though she admits it’s a legitimate concern.

“The burgeoning number of migrants — including thousands of children — is a legitimate concern and a valid story. But much of the news media seems to be using it to show that they intend to present Biden in just as critical a light as they often did Trump — regardless of whether that’s deserved.”

Actually, much of the media have done their level best to avoid reporting any critical or negative news on Biden, but the border crisis has grown too large for even them to try and ignore.

Sullivan does admit that the Biden administration hasn’t helped themselves by denying media access to government detention facilities but thinks reporters need to show some historical perspective and provide a lot of context when discussing this issue which she feels would shed a more positive light on Biden.

The bottom line for Sullivan is that reporters need to do their jobs, but should tread carefully with Biden on the border crisis – which is clearly of his own making — so that it doesn’t appear that President Donald Trump’s policies were actually successful while his have failed.

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