Modern Academe Has Corrupted the Media (And Pretty Much Everything Else)

 In August 2006, I was involved in the Duke Lacrosse Case, realizing that it was driven by a prosecutor eager to win an election and appease local political radicals, seemingly disregarding the truth of the allegations. The accuser, Crystal Gail Mangum, later admitted to fabricating her story, but the mainstream media, including the New York Times, largely ignored her admission despite their earlier support of the case.

The evidence in the case strongly pointed to the players' innocence, yet the NYT claimed the prosecution had stronger evidence than acknowledged. After the case fell apart, the NYT praised its own coverage despite its flaws. This incident reflects a shift in modern journalism shaped by American higher education, where journalists are often highly educated but lack practical experience in real-world issues.

Today's journalists, particularly at elite outlets like the NYT, tend to be left-leaning and reside in liberal urban areas. This media bubble results in coverage that does not reflect the average American experience. While traditional newspaper jobs have declined, online media has flourished in these liberal hubs, further distancing itself from conservative viewpoints.

The connection between modern journalism and higher education has led to a significant change in media. In the Duke Lacrosse case, many professors quickly assumed the players were guilty, and media coverage mirrored this bias. College campuses are known for leftist ideologies, which now influence large sections of society, including corporate and governmental institutions, through movements like Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).

In business education, a negative view of capitalism has taken hold, and budding entrepreneurs are encouraged to focus on social goals rather than profits. People are pushing back against these ideologies, and this resistance is seen as a threat by those in higher education who support these narratives. The American Association of University Professors recently declared that political interference in education threatens academic freedom.

Some argue that the influence of extreme leftist ideas in academia is harmful to society. For instance, at Brown University, the presence of a libertarian speaker prompted officials to create a "safe space" for students who were disturbed by her views, reflecting the absurdity of reactions to differing ideologies in academia.

There is a need to resist the hard-left ideologies that have permeated society from higher education. The hope is to reverse these harmful trends before they further damage public discourse and lead to more cases like the Duke Lacrosse scandal or biased journalism that turns reality upside down.

https://mises.org/mises-wire/modern-academe-has-corrupted-media-and-pretty-much-everything-else