Fresh off a Tahitian excursion with a host of celebrities including Barack and Michelle Obama, “CBS This Morning” anchor Gayle King defended her trip against accusations of journalistic impropriety, explaining to “Access Hollywood,” “My vacations are not political and so I went on vacation with a great group of people and, to me, that’s not a political statement.”
Meanwhile, a source told Page Six last week that “Capital J” journalists at CBS are “raving mad” about King’s spring break.
Though her connections to Obama are not a new development — she donated tens of thousands of dollars to his Victory Funds according to the FEC — King’s continued refusal to disentangle herself is even more meaningful in the Trump era.
Since the president’s campaign started gaining traction almost two years ago, people have turned their attention to conservative media outlets. Commentators such as Sean Hannity and outlets like Breitbart are routinely mocked and castigated for their close connections to President Trump. Meanwhile, CBS’ morning news program is anchored by a woman who vacations with the man who just left the White House (and donated generously to his campaigns).
If King wants to live her life that way, she should. There is nothing wrong with a news network giving a platform to someone who’s open about their opinions, regardless of which side of the ideological spectrum they fall on.
But rather than simply acknowledging, “Hey, I’m a liberal,” when confronted with ethical questions, King instead chose to run from her obvious sympathies and defend the trip as “not political.”
In her official biography, CBS touts the host as an “experienced television journalist.” A recent Los Angeles Times profile noted “This Morning’s” renewed focus on news-heavy content, saying of King, “She is so at ease with expressing her opinions that she’s had to learn to restrain herself when straight reporting is required.” In a Q&A with Gotham, King spoke proudly of competitors who approach her to congratulate the show on doing “real news.” That interview, conducted by CBS’ Mo Rocca, began by proclaiming “Gayle King and Norah O’Donnell are putting the news back on morning television.”
NewsBusters flagged a statement King made in a Variety interview earlier this month, saying of journalism in the Trump era, “I think that, you know, as a journalist, you present the facts, you present the story and let the audience decide.”
How about starting by presenting the facts of your ideological persuasion to the audience, and then letting them decide how to interpret your reporting?
For all the time people spend mocking conservative media, they should acknowledge that journalists such as King are why the industry exists. The average “CBS This Morning” viewer has no idea that King is so connected to the former president, one whose administration she has covered, and will continue to cover, and they shouldn’t have to go on the internet to find out.
It’s no mystery why Americans have so little faith in traditional media institutions.
Emily Jashinsky is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.
