We reported earlier on how so-called “journalists” and other media figures lit into Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) (yes, Ilhan Omar) Wednesday over her surprising defense of the privacy of Freedom Convoy donors after stories from the Ottawa Citizen, the Washington Post, and other “news” outlets were published using the information on private citizens that was illegally obtained by a self-confessed hacker and posted online.
Many of the responses from blue-check “journalists” revolved around the fact that though the information was supposed to have been kept private rather than land in the hands of hackers, it was nevertheless out there so why not take a peak and harass a few private citizens in the process?
The hacked information being repeatedly used in stories from supposedly “reputable” media organizations has sparked outrage and debate over the appropriateness of including it in articles about the convoy and the alleged nefarious motivations of the truckers.
Particularly, privacy advocates and those from the right have raised concerns about the fact that many of the people being targeted by media in Canada include state-funded journalists and average citizens who donated small amounts, don’t have a public profile, or who wish to remain anonymous.
But for some so-called “political correspondents,” the real issue here is not whether or not it’s right for them to be badgering folks over a simple donation to a non-violent cause. The real issue in their view is how the people they’re contacting are responding to them. Bryan Schott of Salt Lake Tribune, a reporter for the newspaper, was one such victim. Schott had been apparently told to “push it” by several Utah donors who he tried to speak to.
I have been in touch with people from Utah, who appear on the Canadian trucker donor data.
Hee hee!
Some of the replies have been…aggressive to put it mildly.
— Bryan “12 min. 45 sec. media availability” Schott (@SchottHappens) February 17, 2022
You know, what did he really expect? According to some reports, the people he’s calling donated as little as $50. Understandably, they simply want to be left alone and not bullied and have their entire life story put out there (not to mention have their family put in harm’s way) by journos with a false narrative to push:
EXCLUSIVE: Salt Lake Tribune now uses the GiveSendGo hack data to reach donors who have given as low as $50. This is harassment. This is not journalism. pic.twitter.com/wbeN193eDJ
— Libs of Tik Tok (@libsoftiktok) February 17, 2022
Trust in the media is at an all-time low, and it can’t be attributed solely to conservatives. Many independents also have a problem with biased reporting and untrustworthy journalists. And yet after all the public discussions and debate in the journalism industry over the last several years about how to go about winning back that trust, we STILL have people like Schott who reach for the fainting couches when someone dares call them out for what they are and what they’re doing.
Here’s a thought, inspired by my esteemable colleague and fellow media analyst Brad Slager: If you don’t want to be treated like an “enemy to the people” then maybe stop acting like it?
Related:Freedom Will Win At the End Of The Day
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