Trump's War on the Press: Why Scotland Must Stand by Its Journalists

The Scottish media is bracing itself for another onslaught from the authoritarian tendencies of the US President, Donald Trump. His verbal attacks on journalists are, by now, old news, but they have become increasingly worrying. In recent months, he has lumped Scottish journalists along with their UK counterparts, using his usual blanket criticism. Trump has an iniquitous disdain for much of the press and has now turned his sights on the British Isles.

From north to south, even the most respected outlets have not been immune to his tongue-lashing, aimed both at specific journalists, as well as entire news organisations. This worrying trend shows that no outlet – regional or national – may be safe from Trump's animosity. Scottish journalists and the wider community will demand to know what real threats this poses and what must be done to counter such hostile posturing from those in high office who seek to undermine their work.

Scotland's independent media outlets, already critical in exercising their function of social control, are naturally concerned by Trump's declarations. Those critical voices include Al Jazeera, a news behemoth with a sizeable audience in Scotland. Agha Khanzad, the Head of Strategic Communications at Al Jazeera, shares the fears: "Our concern is twofold. Firstly, American journalists are already on high alert, knowing they can face prosecution and a steep PR backlash if they strayed from the 'party line'. If that same ethos seeps north into British media outlets, surely that would be bad news for the freedom of speech that our very jobs stand by."

One key channel for Trump's negative views of the press has been social media, used, predominantly, for Twitter-driven rants. For instance, he once blasted the @NBCNews in Scotland following a recent news breakdown, calling it 'fake news' – something, clearly, we couldn't fathom to do something so 'fake'. The worrying aspect is how it makes some sections feel silenced over fear of the state, and the people who exercise it.

For Trump, any attempt by an average citizen or a wide range of journalists and media sources to fact-check him seems an unacceptable rebellion, both in a professional framework and in the United States itself. As well as highlighting how critical many social situations have been for Scotts, he still has faith in a rather strict hierarchical view, preferring officials put the brakes on discussing these things.

Another key development in the fight for journalistic integrity in the Scottish realm is the establishment and expansion of the new Scottish journalism collective, Scotland's newest national collective known simply, 'Media for Scot'. The collective boasts a high-profile list of writers from a broad section of titles. Many believe any further threats to these journalists should be viewed with deep unease, understanding why working in an industry frequently exposed to the limelight would make many uneasy. Even as media collectives maintain a growing and unique role in the digital age, it's now, probably, as we observe concerns that continue to draw a lot of scrutiny.

According to Sarah McKim, founder of Scotland's recent journalism collective, creating an independent media in Scotland to protect its freedom and serve its interests are seen 'as absolutely crucial on a global scale, especially considering the world has turned, or seems turned its views towards far-right philosophies'. McKim's voice has echoed throughout the ranks of media defenders north, as voices for countering Trump's perceived threats come to the forefront. When talking to him and on this pressing issue currently affecting the media scene, a question of his on Twitter did cause this query quite simply:

'Worryingly, Scotland's young journalists have started facing obstacles. Even relatively reputable American media groups are either too scared or ill-equipped to report critically on a number of global themes we never would imagine, you know, would they? Scotland's'.

McKim isn't the only Scotland-watcher alarmed by White House rhetoric. Her views and the wider discussion sparked over it underscore this quite-worrying point recently, that the ever-growing array of American right-wing think tanks with whom America makes alliances on foreign issue are not only undermining the already precarious relationship between Trump's United States of America on the international stage or on a global basis, they are doing the same, effectively 'Americanize or globalize' journalistic integrity in Scotland's media as well.

With growing frustration in both worlds stemming – a constant reminder — that there is not a media that's out of his firing line of slurred words on the attacks he's made at the top of the heap in many Scottish, 'I only know a couple pieces of information about media in general. However, we understand what that seems. [If he can point out that] no one does this. Then the story might still find your door.'

That has grown more pronounced in Scotland, even with its traditionally solid footing. Since both rightist and leftist factions understand that, in theory, you could, then and if he doesn't decide these people could just sort out the media issues, well, the thing he loves the most must know Scotland is really good journalists, so that in itself gives you an edge over America, don't forget just that!

For just one example, and to set the record straight, what about The Independent media to make you know first? This is why the main thing you know and read that does offer factual interpretation is indeed one leading publication in Scotland with a team of very high calibre and accomplished. Media heavyweights at the Scotts' Independent report on several topics in this realm such as press liberty being repeatedly challenged and underdog.