Former CBS anchor Dan Rather, dubbed by many the father of “fake news,” is demanding that reporters blast former President Donald Trump for fudging matters, though not Democrats.
“Enough with Both-sides-ism,” he wrote on X. “If Trump says the sky is green, the story isn’t that the sky is now green; the story is that the sky is still blue and Trump got it wrong,” he added.
In his online rant, Rather did not mention any Democrat, including President Joe Biden, who repeatedly tells inaccurate or wrong stories, even about his personal life.
Rather, an online newsman, said the media need to conduct instant fact-checking, though many already do and typically only of Republicans.
“Prioritize live fact-checking,” he said, adding, “Rigorous and robust fact-checking is the best defense against misinformation, intentional lies, and deflection.”
It is unclear what sparked the rant, though it came after the Supreme Court voted 9-0 to guarantee that Trump’s name be put on every state primary ballot.
Getting both sides of a story was once the hallmark of journalism and the focus of basic journalism college courses. But Rather called for an end if reporters believe one of the sides isn’t telling the truth.
“When one side lies intentionally and repeatedly, they are no longer entitled to the benefit of the doubt. They should be held to account, right away. Do not simply repeat the narratives they spew,” he argued.
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In his post, Rather said he has “made his share of mistakes.”
Most notable was his joint reporting as a CBS anchor that called into question former President George W. Bush’s military service. In some of the original blogger fact-checking, that report was debunked. Rather’s producer was fired, and he was forced to quit in 2004.