Whether you find yourself on the left, on the right, identify as being straight or gay, or believe in God or no god, I would hope than any and everyone could agree that Jim Acosta acted unprofessional and inappropriate in the White House this week.
Unfortunately, my hopes are faced with disappointment in light of the fact that many defend him and similar journalists all while screaming in the name of the First Amendment. So, due to being a 21 year old college student with zero life experience, naturally my opinion is a very important and valid one.
After watching a much longer video, not distributed by Sanders or CNN, I saw the words and actions take place that are under much scrutiny and debate. In emphasizing that I did not see this video in some tweet, I want the reader to know that what I witnessed was not “doctored” and that a “doctored” video is not necessary to know that how Mr. Acosta of CNN acted was both inappropriate and wrong. What happened was this:
- Jim Acosta was given a question to ask President Trump, as many reporters are at these White House press conferences.
- He started out by asking about Trump’s opinions and rhetoric on the caravan coming toward the United State’s southern border.
- The president responded, but Acosta went on to tell him, essentially, “you’re wrong.” He continues on for some time to debate the president as the president tries to tell him that his questions are up and it is time to move on.
- The White House intern, a young woman, saw many hands begin to shoot up which further inferred that Acosta’s time was, fairly, up. She stood up, ushered over, and began to reach over to grab the mic from Acosta who was now asking several questions and even asserting his own position on the matters at hand.
- Instead of, as a professional reporter would, handing the mic to the woman who was in charge of passing it around, allowing many reporters to get their fair and timely shot at asking the President a question, Acosta did something completely different:
- He immediately pulled away from the young lady and, gently, placed his forearm on her own as he said, “Excuse me, miss?” She spun around to look at the President, helpless, and sat back down on the floor, unsure how to remove the mic from the defiant, older reporter. After a few more moments, she finally stood back up and yanked the mic from Acosta to hand it over to the next reporter, NBC’s Peter Alexander.
- President Trump, as per usual, then went on to tear into CNN’s top reporter explaining that he was a “terrible” and “rude” person.
As I watched, I was embarrassed and even cringed at how Acosta had acted and spoke. First, I recollected what I have learned about reporting and that, certainly, was not how one should do it. Trying to disprove and debate the President of the United States in the middle of his White House conference is not an appropriate or acceptable thing to do given the time and place. Perhaps on your own show or through a medium that permits such conversations, but this was a time for each reporter to ask, preferably, one question and move on. However, Jim Acosta decided to make this conference about his own thoughts and opinions and attempted to take up everyone else’s time by asserting his position and voice.
Secondly, journalists should never pull away from the one who is supposed to be mediating the event–the one who is moving about the busy and tense room in order to allow each person to have a chance to inquire. She, the intern, had been given a job and she was trying to do it well. The moment she saw more hands go up and Acosta continue to test the President, she stood up and headed over to allow others their time. Acosta should have allowed her to do so as that is both respectful and expected.
After this event, Sarah Sanders went on to tweet that Acosta had his press pass removed until “further notice” due to how he had touched the intern and pulled away for more of his own time. Some shouted that he had even “assaulted” or “put his hands” on the young woman, but I find this to be way too much of an exaggeration and unnecessary drama. However, his forearm did, slightly, push against hers in order to further secure his hold on the mic. Assault? No. Acceptable? Not at all.
On the other side, however, some are warning that freedom of the press is being threatened. This could not be further from the truth. For nearly two years now, photographers and journalists have graciously expressed that the current president has allowed more press access than any other they had reported on. His predecessor, President Obama, was often criticized for having more private, inaccessible conferences. Trump’s allowing of so much access, especially in comparison to others, should be appreciated and seen as liberating for those desiring as much information and reporting as possible. Of course, the president makes sure to include his own opinions about the press, but this doesn’t keep them from being able to ask him hard or leading questions at such events.
The White House, reasonably so, was sick of how Acosta had acted. He abused his power by trying to have more time and words than anyone else in the room. He attempted to debate and debunk the president rather than ask real, informative questions. He kept a mediator from being able to do her job. It was time his pass be taken away, at least for the time being. There should absolutely be a standard and expectation held for these journalists and if said standard is not upheld then reporters will soon run rampant and be controlling at these times that are meant to simply gather information and answers.
By the way: Mr. Acosta is currently in Paris, France to further report on President Trump’s foreign actions. I think Jim Acosta is doing ok, presently, for those who may be deeply concerned about his whereabouts and mental state.
-Mal
ft. image courtesy of Google images/Mashable
Mallory Chapman 