CEO and co-founder of Axios Jim VandeHei had a meltdown over Elon Musk encouraging social media users to participate in citizen journalism on X as trust in the mainstream media sits at an all-time low.
Speaking at the National Press Club last week, VandeHei complained that “everything” journalists do these days “is under fire.” Part of the reason for the massive distrust in the mainstream media is the media’s years-long bias against conservatives and President-elect Donald Trump. Despite the loss in confidence, it seems most of those in the industry have no plans to improve their practices.
‘It needed to be said, it continues to need to be said.’
Calling out Musk by name, VandeHei said all the billionaire does is sit on X all day and say, “‘We are the media! You are the media!'”
He then addressed Musk directly: “My message to Elon Musk is: Bulls**t! You’re not the media! You have a blue check mark, a Twitter handle, and 300 words of cleverness doesn’t make you a reporter.”
“What we do, what journalists do, what you did in Mississippi, what Al-Jazeera does in the Middle East. You don’t proclaim yourself to be a reporter! Like, that’s nonsense! Like being a reporter is hard, really…
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