It is a grief to accept. The US presidential campaign is accelerating the elimination of the main traditional media, television channels and written press. A process that has been visible for years, but that has taken on an unprecedented aspect in recent months. These media continue to play their role. They investigate, deploy their considerable staff on the ground, track candidates, record little phrases and big moments. But the evolution of the information landscape coincides with an incomparable political context.
The evolution is known: we obtain information in silos. In a powerfully polarized society, we prefer to listen to opinions consistent with our own, through circles of collusion about identity, ideology, politics, religion, etc. Kamala Harris’ presence, scheduled for Fox News on October 16, seems like an exceptional transgression. The United States has fallen into an era of fragmentation, where very powerful podcasts reign, led by hosts proud of not being journalists. These are the new voices mainstream.
The political context is very particular. Both candidates have a contradiction problem. This is particularly obvious in the case of Donald Trump, who only thinks in terms of loyalty or hostility. At 78 years old, questions about his cognitive state are piling up. Kamala Harris, who entered the race late, does not shine in the classic interview exercise, during which she loses her naturalness. It also recalls Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign, which was hopelessly classic. As in the midterm elections two years ago, we find ourselves, therefore, in the presence of parallel campaigns, without a national dialogue. The absence of a second televised debate shortly before the vote means that everyone is trying to woo voters segment after segment.
Limit unforeseen events and uncomfortable situations
The press accredited to the White House feels a long-standing frustration. Joe Biden’s entourage had confined the president to limit interactions with journalists and avoid questions about the deterioration of his cognitive and physical abilities. Kamala Harris also tries to limit unforeseen events and uncomfortable situations. No substantive interviews are granted to the daily written press, nor to the weekly Timewho, however, made his traditional headline about the president who would be the Democrat. Donald Trump responded to this request. For Kamala Harris, this express campaign is not a skills interview in front of experts – it would reveal continuity with the Biden era and his pragmatism – but a personality test in front of the general public.
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