The lead story on this morning\’s Today show was the battle between Donald Trump and Univison anchor Jorge Ramos, when Trump called on a reporter who was trying to ask a question.
-Ramos, who makes no secret of his hatred of Donald Trump (his “neutral”, journalistic assessment? “Right now Donald Trump is, no question, the loudest voice of intolerance, hatred and division in the United States”) stood up and loudly starting asking his own questions, talking over the other reporter.
-Trump told him it wasn\’t his turn. Twice. And when Ramos persisted, told him to “go back to Univision”.
-Then security, possibily at Trump\’s request, escorted Ramos from the room.
-Ramos was allowed back in a few minutes later, and given time to engage in an extended Q&A with Trump – a lot more time than anyone else, which he clearly seemed to think he was entitled to.
So how did the Today show handle this event?
First, co-host Savannah Guthrie introduced Ramos as “A prominent Spanish language anchor”. Then correspondent Peter Alexander referred to him as “The most powerful newsman in Spanish language TV. He\’s often called the Walter Cronkite of Latino America”
Does that tell you clearly enough how Today wanted Ramos to be seen by its audience?
Then, the report showed footage of Trump shutting Ramos up, and twice telling he that he wasn\’t called. But nowhere in the report did it mention that Trump was not expressing an opinion, he was stating an empirical fact: Ramos got up and talked over the reporter who was called.
After Peter Alexander\’s report concluded, Today host Matt Lauer interviewed Trump live, with Trump on the phone. His entire reference to what started the Trump/Ramos exchange, was “we can debate at length whether he should have waited his turn to ask that question…” and then right past it. So the fact – the FACT – that Ramos jumped the line, which ignored and disrespected every other reporter in the room, was completely glossed over.
This, folks, is the latest example of what passes for “journalism” on the Today Show.
I hope you\’re not surprised.
