It had been a political debate between a Republican congressman and his challenger in the midterm elections, a Democrat, just outside Washington. When the audience went home, a crowd of journalists gathered around Republican Andy Harris for a few questions.
Then it heated up. When Cat Murphy, a 22-year-old journalism student, had asked her question, the politician suddenly demanded that she turn off the recording. Cat Murphy said she had a right to be there - this was a political meeting in a public place. Then he raised his voice, urged her to leave the place and threatened to prosecute.
The following day, DN meets Cat Murphy at the news agency Capital News Service. The agency is run by the University of Maryland and staffed by students, under the direction of their faculty. The newsroom is located on Capitol Hill, next door to Congress and the Supreme Court.
- It was an unpleasant situation, but I did not take the leap personally and I will continue to monitor him, says Cat Murphy.
Christi Parsons, who teaches journalism at the Phillip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland, calls the incident an emergency.
- We have now reached a new level.
Christi Parsons has a long career as a political reporter. She covered Barack Obama from his time as an unknown senator until he left the White House, and she has spent countless hours with America's top politicians.
- But I have never seen an experienced, senior member of Congress behave threateningly and throw out a journalist, to top it all off a young student.
It can be seen as a sign that the rhetoric against the media has spread from the highest political level. But the incident arouses reactions and the interview requests pour in. A few hours later, student Cat Murphy tells CNN about what happened.
The threatening attitude towards journalists – in words, but also with seizures, lawsuits and threats of legal action – has caused American journalism trainings to reinforce the aspects of security, both physical security, as well as how to protect one's material and sources.
In New York, the lawyer Jameel Jaffer, director of the Knight first amendment institute at Columbia law school, recalls that many presidents have attacked freedom of speech.
- Bush did it, Obama did it. It is neither new nor unexpected: the tension between state interests and freedom of expression is built into the system. But there are limits, no president in modern times has been as hostile to press freedom as Trump.
The change that is likely to be more lasting is Trump's nominations to the Supreme Court, where justices are elected for life. While lower courts have also in recent years mostly ruled in favor of journalists, the Supreme Court has become known for rewarding economic freedom and equating, for example, campaign financing with freedom of expression.
The politicization of a range of authorities has escalated under Trump, and may also have a long-term impact, as broadcasters learn that their broadcast licenses can be revoked if they do not comply.
At the CBS television channel, which was bought by Skydance, the editorial management was replaced by the new, pro-Trump owner. A number of journalists have since left the channel. One of them is John Dickerson, who until last fall was news anchor for the CBS Evening news.
- The fact that Trump has started to use more tools to access the media, such as the TV licenses, has a deterrent effect on news work as well, especially when many media outlets are struggling financially.
John Dickerson has sadness in his voice. He now writes in The Atlantic and on Substack, among other things, but says that it is difficult to reach out.
- The fight for the reader's attention is mind-numbing, many would rather do something else. But I think it is a civic duty to follow the news.
But Marc Lotter, host of the cable channel Newsmax, who is politically close to the Trump administration, believes that the number of options is good.
- For a long time there was a clear batting side to the left. Now the audience is no longer dependent on the established media. It is positive, people can choose for themselves, he says.
Marc Lotter started as a local reporter in Indiana, working for newspapers and public service. He was recruited as a communicator by the Republican Party, and worked for Mike Pence when he was recruited by Trump as a vice presidential candidate in 2016. Lotter eventually became responsible for Trump's presidential election campaign in 2020. After the election loss, he returned to the media industry, now in a channel with a clear right-wing profile.
- I am open about my background and where I stand. And don't forget that "neutral" media is something relatively new in the US, newspapers have historically often had a political agenda.
But even on Newsmax, he believes, you can be critical of Trump.
- "Fake news" is not a term I would use myself, and we have acquired a culture of atmosphere that also affects my work. I used to double check an assignment because I wanted to be correct, now I do it because I might risk being sued.
Perhaps the wind has turned. Trump's low trust numbers are a signal that a majority of Americans don't like what they see. It could pave the way for a less vicious attitude towards the press. At the same time, there is an awareness that a new administration, regardless of party colour, may be tempted to maintain certain restrictions. Press freedom organizations therefore want to see legislation that strengthens source protection and extends journalists' right to information.
The fragmented media landscape, however, will remain, and among young journalists there is a clear and growing group who see themselves as activists, more than impartial reporters. But if you want to push an agenda, perhaps you should devote yourself to political communication, rather than journalism, believes journalism teacher Christi Parsons.
- You can, of course, work for one of the biased publications, but I usually advise my students to start their careers as regular reporters, not opinion leaders.
Student Cat Murphy wants people on both sides to believe what she reports.
- But in the current climate there are situations where there is no "fair balance". You may have to fight back harder, and stand up for what is true.
She takes a dig at colleagues of older generations.
- To me, it is obvious that much of journalism as it was done in the past no longer works. You have to think anew and rethink. New formats, new platforms, meet the audience where it is. It's not like before.
