Back in the ‘80s, three of my favorite actors, Sally Fields, Paul Newman and Wilfred Brimley, starred in the film “Absence of Malice.”

Set amidst the beauty of Miami, and at a time in our history where truth held a higher hand in our cultural dedications, it’s an entertaining exposé of the vulnerabilities of mainstream media.

The title of the film evolved from the legal construct that an “absence of malice” protected the newspaper in question from accountability for error, exaggeration and accusation because they had no intentional effort to harm.

If a story was accurate, then whether it was true or not didn’t really matter.

In other words, they could get by with pretty much anything, as long as they didn’t intend to harm.

As you might guess, though the newspaper in question dodged legal, financial or public consequence, the erosion of that outlet’s soul was revealed.

Fast forward to today. Would that our mainstream media outlets — including our locally based WLOS television station and Citizen Times daily paper — be remotely as conscionable as the Miami Standard that unleashed Sally Fields on Paul Newman.

When it comes to matters of social/political importance, today’s media outlets practice something I like to call “absent with malice.”

May I explain? 

Selective truth — The vast majority of media outlets support truth anytime they can. Those last three words are the rub. If truth is inconvenient to their hidden agendas, it’s readily discarded.

One angle of view — Watch Asheville’s WLOS news programs. Their take will be dependably left-minded and there will be few, if any, oppositional voices provided – unless it’s toward something conservative. That’s myopia, not diversity, and subjective opinionating versus objective news. This pattern is so consistent, it’s like watching a nightly rerun.

Exaggeration — To secure viewers, it’s necessary to trigger fear, excitement and/or anger. Amplification of reality does all three, so it’s a win-win-win for journalistic pretenders. “Weather Warn Days” anyone?

Victimhood over accountability — Note a persistent story pattern with mass media. Everything that illuminates victim status is highlighted. Everything that attempts to address responsibility is avoided. That’s social engineering – not journalism.  

Indifference to bias creep — All enterprises are vulnerable to the incremental introduction of bias. Media is not an exception, but they think they are. Witness the NPR head being questioned by congress on the absence of any conservative representation at the organization. She was apparently shocked to learn of such, or was it over being called out on publicly funded institutional bias?

AWOL ethics — Speaking of shocked, you may be surprised to learn that there is a journalistic code of ethics. Standards exist, but declaration and implementation are different things. Ethical mainstream media journalists exist mostly in their own minds.

Selective character assassination — Note the relentless effort by mainstream media to minimize and villainize President Trump. Note the relentless effort by mainstream media to maximize and elevate former President Biden. There’s nothing in our history to compare to the media’s conspiracy to protect the latter from honest scrutiny in a situation where adult protective services should have been called. 

Agenda-driven propaganda — There is a supreme difference in objectively sharing the news and subjectively selling the news. Consider the AI definition of propaganda — “The deliberate dissemination of information, often biased or misleading, to influence public opinion and promote a particular cause or point of view.” — and ask yourself what you see, hear and read from most media outlets.

Money rules — It’s all about the money. Mainstream media outlets are doing what serves them economically. Facts, honesty, objectivity, balance, morality and fairness are mediocre money-makers.

Power preservation — After money, power and influence are major drivers of media priorities. To have power, you have to support the powerful. For decades, the left has overwhelmed a milk toast conservative movement and the media has grown addicted to their liberal script.

Examples of media corruption abound.

Mass media – Trump’s declared tariff war is designed to make the rich richer.Truth — Trump’s initiative is a bold attempt to reverse a one-sided tariff equation that has exploited America for decades.

Mass media – Trump is sidestepping the law to control the border, export gang members, and stop sanctuary cities. Truth – Trump is trying to fix years of border and illegal immigration exploitation by America’s leaders, businesses and both political parties.

Mass media – DOGE is nothing more than an attempt to enrich Elon Musk and punish political foes. Truth – DOGE is an attempt by hyper-busy people like Elon Musk who care about something besides their own welfare to rein in government spending and address our ballooning deficit.

Mass media – President Trump is attacking Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare — and will cut benefits. Truth – President Trump is trying to salvage each of these programs by addressing waste and fraud and has affirmed that he will not reduce any of these programs for eligible Americans.

Journalism is a crucial pillar of America’s historical success equation. Today, that pillar is cracked.