By Nick Hughes

Enemy of the people is what I am described as by Donald Trump, but I would like to think that my choice of a career, journalism, will be an enlightening one that will bring me fulfillment in life. While the Trump presidency is a good example of what not to do as a journalist, it is also a good look at what journalists must go through to protect the first amendment. The freedom of the press part to be precise; it is under attack by Trump.

Why attack the press?

Why does Trump attack the press? I often have thought about this because I, at first, did not want to believe that Trump attacked them because they covered everything he did. Whether that be the right or wrong thing did not matter. Putting a bad light on Trump is an act he cannot stand. Evidence of this is during a lot of press conferences when he spars with reporters and calls them, the liberal ones, Fake News.

What is fake news though? It used to have a different definition, but there is now a Trump based one. Whatever Donald Trump calls fake, in his mind, is fake news. This is incorrect of course, but it is vital that Trump’s definition of fake news becomes well known. Holding Trump accountable for his actions when he breaks laws and then touts that the Fake News outlets are misconstruing what he did.


Now being an enemy of the people is not what journalists are, but Trump has labeled us as such. There is now a stigma against journalists. He says not to trust us and we skew the facts to a liberal favored viewpoint. If this were true, the country would be a propaganda machine. This is not true and there are honorable and ethical journalists in the country. 

The Purpose of Journalism

A journalist is a guardian and gatekeeper of the truth. That is the job I took when I decided to study to become a journalist. I take this charge and I am an ethical person. I do not consider my words that go against Trump to be inflammatory. I want them to spark conversation and critical thinking instead of fighting and angry debate.

That is something that the media has lost. Objectivity is a charge of the profession as well.
I have my ethical and moral standards and Trump has crossed every line I have laid out to give him more chances. Trying to pursue the profession of journalism is becoming harder and harder due to the rhetoric Trump speaks.


That is where I messed up. I should have stopped giving him chances after he mocked a disabled reporter. The man has very little couth when it comes to that type of interaction.

My personal political opinion was rarely a factor when I wrote before Trump became President. I did not want to touch politics before that. I wanted to write feature pieces for various magazines, but I could not and will not sit by

Enemy of the people is what I am described as by Donald Trump, but I would like to think that my choice of a career, journalism, will be an enlightening one that will bring me fulfillment in life. While the Trump presidency is a good example of what not to do as a journalist, it is also a good look at what journalists must go through to protect the first amendment. The freedom of the press part to be precise; it is under attack by Trump.