ترمب.. امتحان الموضوعية في وسائل الإعلام الأميركية

ترمب.. امتحان الموضوعية في وسائل الإعلام الأميركية

الحقيقة وترمب (Truth Trump)، باللعب بهاتين الكلمتين قررت مجلة نيمان ريبورت، المتخصصة بالصحافة والصادرة عن جامعة هارفارد الأميركية عنونة عددها الصادر خريف 2016، لمراجعة مهنية التغطيات الصحفية للانتخابات الأميركية الأخيرة وتأثير فوز الرئيس الأميركي المثير للجدل دونالد ترامب على الحقيقة (التي من المفترض أن تنقلها الصحافة).. فتداعيات فوزه (ترامب) ما زالت تفرض نفسها ما بين معارض ومعارض ثم مؤيد بدا كأنه طيف على شاشات التلفزة وشبح في مواقع التواصل الاجتماعي.

لا شك أن شخصية ترامب وتصريحاته وسيرته الذاتية بشكل عام كانت محطّ استهجان من فئات كثيرة وشخصيات فنية شهيرة أعلنت موقفها السلبي من ترشحه وفوزه كما صرح الممثل الهوليوودي روبرت دي نيرو قبل صدور نتائج الانتخابات ثم ما صرحت به نظيرته ميريل ستريب خلال حفل تسلم جوائز الغولدن غلوب عقب فوز ترامب.

وتظل تلك التصريحات مدرجة في إطارات فردية طالما أن أصحابها يمثلون أنفسهم.. لكن ماذا عن الصحافة؟

لن تتسع المقالة للعناوين الصحفية الأميركية التي أظهرت انحيازا واضحا للمرشحة هيلاري كلينتون وألحقتها بعناوين أخرى بعد فوز ترامب بالانتخابات لم توفّر حتى علاقته الشخصية بزوجته.

فيديوهات لا حصر لها بدأت تلتقط تفاصيل إيماءاته ووقوفه مع أفراد عائلته وخصوصا زوجته وتقارنها بالرئيس الأميركي السابق باراك أوباما، تقودنا لرسم علامة استفهام ضخمة عن مفهوم الموضوعية والمهنية في ظل مصلحة وطنية "نسبية".

لنا أن نتساءل عن الحجة التي تريد وسائل الإعلام استخدامها ضد رئيس منتخب نفترض أنها (الحجة) تتعلق بحقوق الإنسان وخصوصا المواطن الأميركي الذي منحه صوته.

بيد أن معظم ما نشر كان يتعلق بمسائل شخصية أهمها علاقته بزوجته، افترضت وسائل الإعلام وأرادت أن تفرض على المتابعين أن هناك ارتباطا وثيقا بين علاقة الحاكم بزوجته وقراراته السياسية، وإذا سقنا أمثلة من التاريخ القديم والحديث والمعاصر فستنسف تلك الحجة، كما أنها لا تعكس دراسة عملية عميقة لنتائج قرارات ترامب المنتمي لفريق من ذوي الاتجاه اليميني.

قد نتفهم موقف وسائل الإعلام التي ترى أن وجود ترمب خطر على الأمة التي تعيش بها، لكن طريقتها في إظهار هذا الخطر تبدو متواضعة جدا وغير موضوعية.

وسائل الإعلام العربية لم تخرج عن هذا الإطار، وهي عادة ليست جديدة في الانسياق وراء المعالجة الغربية، وخصوصا فيما يتعلق بالتغطيات "المكتبية" لا "الميدانية"..  فالأخبار والفيديوهات المتداولة في وكالات الأنباء لم تلق أي نقد من طرف وسائل الإعلام العربية التي أخذتها كما هي ولم تضف عليها جديدا لا في الطرح ولا في المعالجة وفي معظم الأحيان حتى في الجمل والتعليقات.

هذا لا ينفي وجود تقارير ومقالات تحليلية لم تخضع لـ"التفكير الجمعي" وحافظت على رصانتها أمام طوفان المواد التي ركزت على النقد الشخصي دون أن تنسى أن ترامب لا يقوم إلا بتنفيذ وعوده التي انتُخب لأجلها.

ترامب نفسه صرّح أن وسائل الإعلام لم تكن موضوعية وانتهز فرصة المؤتمر الذي عقد بعد فوزه لمهاجمة قناة السي أن أن، عن طريق منع مراسلها من طرح السؤال عليه.

لقد كان ترشح ترمب امتحانا للموضوعية والمهنية التي تتغنى بها وسائل الإعلام الأميركية لكن أيضا تغليبا لما اعتقدت معظم الوسائل الإعلامية أنه يصب في الصالح العام الأميركي.. وجهة نظر لا تتبعها على الأغلب في تغطيات خارج حدود أراضيها.

More Articles

Western Media’s Double Standards on Muslim Women’s Suffering

When an Iranian student publicly protested against security forces by undressing, the moment garnered widespread attention in Western media. Meanwhile, even as 70 percent of those killed in Palestine are women and children, this ongoing violence—including the systematic killing, torture, and detention of Palestinian women—receives minimal coverage. This disparity raises urgent questions: How do Western media represent women’s issues in the Islamic world, and to what extent are such portrayals shaped by double standards?

Shaimaa Al-Eisai
Shaimaa Al-Eisai Published on: 24 Apr, 2025
Western Media Has Failed Their Palestinian Colleagues

A 2024 CPJ report revealed that nearly 70% of journalists killed that year were targeted by Israel, yet major Western media outlets largely ignored or downplayed the findings. The muted response to these targeted attacks and escalating press restrictions highlights a troubling double standard in the West’s commitment to press freedom.

Assal Rad
Assal Rad Published on: 21 Apr, 2025
Weaponizing the Law: SLAPPs Against Journalists and Press Freedom

SLAPPs—abusive lawsuits designed to silence journalists and activists—are surging across Southeast Asia, exploiting vague laws and weak protections to punish those who speak truth to power. As legal harassment intensifies, journalists face not only imprisonment and censorship but also emotional trauma, exile, and long-term damage to their careers.

AJR Contributor Published on: 17 Apr, 2025
Predicting the Future of Media in 2025

The rise of citizen journalism, the rethinking of long-form content, the evolution of video, and the exploration of AI opportunities are key elements of the media landscape forecast for 2025, according to a report from Harvard University's Nieman Lab.

Othman Kabashi
Othman Kabashi Published on: 15 Apr, 2025
Revisioning Journalism During a Genocide

Western media’s coverage of the Gaza genocide has revealed fundamental cracks in the notion of journalistic objectivity. Mainstream outlets have frequently marginalized or discredited Palestinian perspectives, often echoing narratives that align with Israeli state interests. In stark contrast, Palestinian journalists—reporting from within a besieged landscape—have become frontline truth-tellers. Through raw, emotional storytelling, they are not only documenting atrocities but also redefining journalism as a form of resistance and a reclaiming of ethical purpose.

Ana Maria Monjardino
Ana Maria Monjardino Published on: 4 Apr, 2025
How Media Drives Collective Adaptation During Natural Disasters in Oman

This paper highlights how Omani media, during times of natural disasters, focused on praising government efforts to improve its image, while neglecting the voices of victims and those affected by the cyclones. It also examines the media’s role in warning against and preventing future disasters.

Shaimaa Al-Eisai
Shaimaa Al-Eisai Published on: 31 Mar, 2025
Systematic Bias: How Western Media Framed the March 18 Massacre of Palestinians

On March 18, Israel launched a large-scale assault on Gaza, killing over 412 Palestinians and injuring more than 500, while Western media uncritically echoed Israel’s claim of “targeting Hamas.” Rather than exposing the massacre, coverage downplayed the death toll, delayed key facts, and framed the attacks as justified pressure on Hamas—further highlighting the double standard in valuing Palestinian lives.

Mei Shigenobu مي شيغينوبو
Mei Shigenobu Published on: 18 Mar, 2025
Misinformation in Syria: Natural Chaos or Organised Campaign?

Old videos inciting “sectarian strife,” statements taken out of context attacking Christians, scenes of heavy weaponry clashes in other countries, fabricated stories of fictitious detainees, and a huge amount of fake news that accompanied the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime: Is it the natural chaos of transition or a systematic campaign?

Farhat Khedr
Farhat Khedr Published on: 11 Mar, 2025
Trump and the Closure of USAID: A Candid Conversation on "Independent Media"

The impact of U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to halt foreign funding through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) on Arab media platforms has largely gone undiscussed. Some of these platforms have consistently labelled themselves as "independent" despite being Western-funded. This article examines the reasons behind the failure of economic models for Western-funded institutions in the Arab world and explores the extent of their editorial independence.

Ahmad Abuhamad Published on: 9 Mar, 2025
The Sharp Contrast: How Israeli and Western Media Cover the War on Gaza

Despite being directly governed by Israeli policies, some Israeli media outlets critically report on their government’s actions and use accurate terminology, whereas Western media has shown complete bias, failing to be impartial in its coverage of Israel’s aggression in Gaza.

Faras Ghani Published on: 5 Mar, 2025
International Media Seek Gaza Access; What Do Palestinian Journalists Say?

As international media push for access to Gaza, Palestinian journalists—who have been the primary voices on the ground—criticize their Western counterparts for failing to acknowledge their contributions, amplify their reports, or support them as they risk their lives to document the war. They face systemic bias and exploitation, and continue to work under extreme conditions without proper recognition or support.

NILOFAR ABSAR
Nilofar Absar Published on: 26 Feb, 2025
Journalism and Artificial Intelligence: Who Controls the Narrative?

How did the conversation about using artificial intelligence in journalism become merely a "trend"? And can we say that much of the media discourse on AI’s potential remains broad and speculative rather than a tangible reality in newsrooms?

Mohammad Zeidan
Mohammad Zeidan Published on: 23 Feb, 2025
The Whispers of Resistance in Assad’s Reign

For more than a decade of the Syrian revolution, the former regime has employed various forms of intimidation against journalists—killing, interrogations, and forced displacement—all for a single purpose: silencing their voices. Mawadda Bahah hid behind pseudonyms and shifted her focus to environmental issues after a "brief session" at the Kafar Soussa branch of Syria’s intelligence agency.

Mawadah Bahah
Mawadah Bahah Published on: 18 Feb, 2025
Culture of silence: Journalism and mental health problems in Africa

The revealing yet underreported impact of mental health on African journalists is far-reaching. Many of them lack medical insurance, support, and counselling while covering sensitive topics or residing in conflicting, violent war zones, with some even considering suicide.

Derick Matsengarwodzi
Derick Matsengarwodzi Published on: 13 Feb, 2025
Tweets Aren’t News: Why Journalism Still Matters

Twitter, once key for real-time news, has become a battleground of misinformation and outrage, drowning out factual journalism. With major newspapers leaving, the challenge is to remind audiences that true news comes from credible sources, not the chaos of social media.

Ilya
Ilya U Topper Published on: 10 Feb, 2025
Will Meta Become a Platform for Disinformation and Conspiracy Theories?

Meta’s decision to abandon third-party fact-checking in favor of Community Notes aligns with Donald Trump’s long-standing criticisms of media scrutiny, raising concerns that the platform will fuel disinformation, conspiracy theories, and political polarization. With support from Elon Musk’s X, major social media platforms now lean toward a "Trumpian" stance, potentially weakening global fact-checking efforts and reshaping the online information landscape.

Arwa Kooli
Arwa Kooli Published on: 5 Feb, 2025
October 7: The Battle for Narratives and the Forgotten Roots of Palestine

What is the difference between October 6th and October 7th? How did the media distort the historical context and mislead the public? Why did some Arab media strip the genocidal war from its roots? Is there an agenda behind highlighting the Israel-Hamas duality in news coverage?

Said El Hajji
Said El Hajji Published on: 21 Jan, 2025
Challenges of Unequal Data Flow on Southern Narratives

The digital revolution has widened the gap between the Global South and the North. Beyond theories that attribute this disparity to the North's technological dominance, the article explores how national and local policies in the South shape and influence its narratives.

Hassan Obeid
Hassan Obeid Published on: 14 Jan, 2025
Decolonise How? Humanitarian Journalism is No Ordinary Journalism

Unlike most journalism, which involves explaining societies to themselves, war reporting and foreign correspondence explain the suffering of exoticised communities to audiences back home, often within a context of profound ignorance about these othered places. Humanitarian journalism seeks to counter this with empathetic storytelling that amplifies local voices and prioritises ethical representation.

Patrick Gathara
Patrick Gathara Published on: 8 Jan, 2025
Mastering Journalistic Storytelling: The Power of Media Practices

Narration in journalism thrives when it's grounded in fieldwork and direct engagement with the story. Its primary goal is to evoke impact and empathy, centering on the human experience. However, the Arab press has often shifted this focus, favoring office-based reporting over firsthand accounts, resulting in narratives that lack genuine substance.

AJR logo
Zainab Tarhini Published on: 7 Jan, 2025
I Resigned from CNN Over its Pro-Israel Bias

  Developing as a young journalist without jeopardizing your morals has become incredibly difficult.

Ana Maria Monjardino
Ana Maria Monjardino Published on: 2 Jan, 2025
Digital Colonialism: The Global South Facing Closed Screens

After the independence of the Maghreb countries, the old resistance fighters used to say that "colonialism left through the door only to return through the window," and now it is returning in new forms of dominance through the window of digital colonialism. This control is evident in the acquisition of major technological and media companies, while the South is still looking for an alternative.

Ahmad Radwan
Ahmad Radwan Published on: 31 Dec, 2024
Independent Syrian Journalism: From Revolution to Assad's Fall

Independent Syrian journalism played a pivotal role in exposing regime corruption and documenting war crimes during the 13-year revolution, despite immense risks to journalists, including imprisonment, assassination, and exile. Operating from abroad, these journalists pioneered investigative and open-source reporting, preserving evidence, and shaping narratives that challenged the Assad regime's propaganda.

Ahmad Haj Hamdo
Ahmad Haj Hamdo Published on: 17 Dec, 2024
Bolivia’s Mines and Radio: A Voice of the Global South Against Hegemony

Miners' radio stations in the heart of Bolivia's mining communities, played a crucial role in shaping communication within mining communities, contributing to social and political movements. These stations intersected with anarchist theatre, educational initiatives, and alternative media, addressing labour rights, minority groups, and imperialism.

Khaldoun Shami PhD
Khaldoun H. Shami Published on: 16 Dec, 2024