As neatly summarized by Oliver Kamm,
But the liberalism of today's mainstream media (MSM) is a perversion of its traditional traits. Instead of championing the rule of law exercised disinterestedly, the MSM revels in the circus antics of mob mentality. Instead of championing the promotion of human rights internationally, the MSM seeks justification for the homicidal destruction of civilians. Instead of championing the separation of civil and religious authority, the MSM formulates apologia for theocratic fanaticism. Instead of championing the rights to freedom of expression and association, the MSM now champions the consensus of vociferous crowds.
In effect traditional, that is "mainstream liberalism" is not the "liberalism of the mainstream media". The latter is an oxymoron.
[L]iberalism as a modern political movement - in which I include parties of the social democratic left, which long ago acknowledged the failure of socialism - has certain consistent traits. Its central principle is that, while we may belong to groups, our primary identity is as citizens who are equal under law. Many characteristics of the liberal outlook, as we now understand it, follow from a common citizenship: the rule of law exercised disinterestedly; the promotion of human rights internationally; separation of civil and religious authority; rights to freedom of expression and association; a measure of economic redistribution that enables citizens to exercise autonomous choices; sexual equality; reproductive freedom; the right of same-sex couples to marry and inherit.
But the liberalism of today's mainstream media (MSM) is a perversion of its traditional traits. Instead of championing the rule of law exercised disinterestedly, the MSM revels in the circus antics of mob mentality. Instead of championing the promotion of human rights internationally, the MSM seeks justification for the homicidal destruction of civilians. Instead of championing the separation of civil and religious authority, the MSM formulates apologia for theocratic fanaticism. Instead of championing the rights to freedom of expression and association, the MSM now champions the consensus of vociferous crowds.
In effect traditional, that is "mainstream liberalism" is not the "liberalism of the mainstream media". The latter is an oxymoron.
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