Tony Onyima, Ph.D.
Following the November 5, 2024, U.S. presidential election, Donald Trump has been declared the 47th President-elect of the United States, returning to power in an election marked by intense media scrutiny and deep partisan divides. Trump’s victory, a highly contentious outcome in an already polarised environment, underscores the significant role the American media played during the campaign, often prioritising partisan agendas over balanced reporting. As traditional journalistic standards continued to be overshadowed by partisanship and sensationalism, the media landscape became an arena for ideological clashes, further fracturing public trust and deepening divisions across the electorate.
In the months leading up to the election, major media networks entrenched themselves in echo chambers. Outlets like Fox News remained ardently supportive of Trump, presenting him as capable of restoring “American greatness” and frequently downplaying controversies surrounding his policies. Conversely, networks like MSNBC and publications like The New York Times scrutinised Trump’s actions and painted a stark picture of his presidency’s potential impact on democracy. The partisan narratives pushed by both ends of the media reinforced an “us-versus-them” mentality among viewers, who increasingly sought out news that aligned with their beliefs. This dynamic reflected a broader trend toward advocacy journalism, where ideological loyalty often supersedes objectivity.
According to the Pew Research Center, public perception of media bias hit new highs during the campaign season, with 80% of Americans continuing to view bias as a critical problem. Gallup’s 2024 survey on media trust underscored this crisis, showing that only 22% of Americans have a high confidence level in the press—reflecting a near-historic low. These statistics illustrate a significant decline in the credibility of traditional media outlets, as citizens increasingly regard them as players in the political fray rather than neutral observers. This erosion of trust, exacerbated by the election’s divisive coverage, has resulted in more citizens turning to alternative platforms, some of which lack rigorous fact-checking.
The media’s approach to contentious issues such as election security, voter rights, and immigration policies showcased the extent of its role in shaping electoral discourse. Liberal outlets often framed Republican-backed voting laws in states like Georgia and Arizona as deliberate attempts to disenfranchise minority voters. At the same time, conservative media minimised these concerns and reframed them as necessary measures for election integrity. This starkly divided coverage meant that viewers seldom encountered a nuanced view, receiving instead simplified narratives that aligned with partisan leanings. In this way, media coverage inadvertently stoked distrust, as voters on both sides felt their concerns were amplified or dismissed outright.
Adding fuel to the fire was the role of social media platforms, where misinformation circulated largely unchecked. A 2024 Media Matters for America report revealed that politically charged falsehoods were widely shared on platforms like Truth Social, Twitter, and Facebook, often creating self-contained echo chambers. These platforms enabled users to retreat into ideologically homogeneous spaces, amplifying sensationalistic claims and shaping public perception without the oversight of traditional journalistic standards. Social media’s role in spreading misinformation around topics like mail-in ballots and polling irregularities further intensified suspicions about the election’s legitimacy, with voters absorbing narratives that confirmed their preexisting biases.
Reflecting on Edward S. Herman and Noam Chomsky’s “Manufacturing Consent,” it’s clear that media outlets, influenced by corporate and political interests, have reinforced ideological divides rather than fostering a shared foundation for civic discourse. In the 2024 election, media channels largely abandoned the traditional role of providing objective information, opting to drive partisan narratives that validated viewers’ beliefs while alienating others. This shift is evident in the growing number of Americans alienated from mainstream media, relying on smaller, alternative sources for news, further fragmenting public trust in the traditional Fourth Estate.
The media’s role in the 2024 presidential election, underscored by Trump’s return to the White House, has left lasting impacts on American democracy. Far from providing a platform for balanced discourse, today’s media environment has intensified ideological divides, often prioritising partisan alignment over fact-based reporting. The nation’s journalistic institutions urgently need to restore objectivity and public trust. Without a commitment to unbiased, fact-centered reporting, the media risks diminishing its credibility and jeopardising the democratic processes it purports to protect.