People who are angry about the state of our nation regularly tell me they feel powerless and ask what they can do to stop the descent of America into a fascist state. Today, I have some ideas. They emanate from what is happening to journalism at the moment, which is dire. I’ve always thought that the linchpin to the American system of government is our free press -- the independent watchdog that stands outside the three branches of government to hold those in power accountable and keep them honest. Proof of concept: As unprecedented economic challenges of the digital era wiped out much of the traditional press, we’ve seen our governments at all levels run amok in the absence of the watchdogs. An independent press is a much-needed check. We all know, however, that evolving technology has presented challenges to plenty of industries over the decades. I’ve long figured it is to us in the media to navigate through the troubled waters, to make sure a free press thrives, and some of us have. Quite suddenly, though, parts of the media are under another unprecedented attack. From within. Earlier this month, Paramount Global, owner of CBS, agreed to write a $16 million check to settle a lawsuit by President Donald Trump over a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris. The lawsuit was 100 percent frivolous. The news show did what all journalists do in putting together stories, choosing the elements that best illustrate them. Trump didn’t like the story and sued. No media expert believed he would win. But Paramount has a proposed $8 billion merger with Skydance before the FCC, which Trump controls. Kowtowing to the president on the lawsuit likely means the merger will be approved without resistance. What Paramount did is despicable. Settling undermines the media everywhere in America. Giving in to a president who is using his position to bully serves only to fortify him, empowering him to seek to squelch the independent press everywhere. Rather than stand on principle and protect the First Amendment, Paramount leaders abandoned their duty as citizens of this nation to defend it, opting instead to chase the almighty dollar. Paramount compounded its undermining of press freedom this week when it canceled its Late Night show with Stephen Colbert, just a few nights after he blasted the company for capitulating to Trump. Sadly, Paramount was not the first to do so. Disney, which owns ABC, did the same thing when Trump sued over a mistake made by George Stephanopolous on ABC News. He incorrectly said Trump was found liable for rape in the E. Jean Carroll case, when Trump had been found liable for sexual abuse and defamation. Again, First Amendment experts believed ABC News would have prevailed in the case, but ABC caved and wrote a check for $16 million to settle. America cannot afford this kind of surrender to a president who seems bent on squashing dissent, in a page from the fascist playbook. Now, more than ever, those in decision-making roles in America’s newsrooms should be defending their independence. The owners of ABC News and CBS News have done the opposite, stomping all over the idea of a free press. This has to stop. The America you know and love will cease to exist without an independent press to ask the tough questions, hold the powerful to account and report it all back to you. So, back to my original statement. What can you do? With the owners of ABC and CBS showing that they care more about the dollar than about the principles that make America great, you can take away their dollars. First, never watch ABC or CBS again. Let their ratings tank, along with their advertising dollars. The journalists who work for them have been undermined, so they should seek employment in newsrooms that still stand for something. Their networks no longer have credibility. Second, cancel your subscriptions to the streaming services of Paramount and Disney. With Paramount, don’t pay for Paramount+ or Showtime. With Disney, cancel your subscriptions to Disney+, ESPN and Hulu. If the millions of people who subscribe to these services speak with their wallets to demand the owners defend press, just maybe these companies will reform their un-American ways and remember they are citizens of this country, too. They have a duty to protect it. Consider how many people have died in defense of the principles we hold dear. Compare that to the slight burden you’d face of not watching the next iteration of Yellowstone. You’ve asked what you can do. You can make a powerful statement about your belief in press freedom. Continuing to subscribe to their services tells them that you’re ok with what they’re doing. Show them that you’re not. I’m at [email protected] Thanks for reading. | 