It’s a new era; protect yourself

... what we do to bring accountability to power is never more critical than today. We can’t back down from our mandate to provide truthful information to our communities — even in the face of risk.”

Robin Blinder, editor-in-chief, Editor & Publisher

The unique thing about writing an editorial for this magazine is that I often write a few weeks to a month before you read it. So, as usual, this editorial (and my thoughts) will be “old news” by the time you receive it. I’m writing this one the day after Inauguration Day.

I didn’t watch any Inaugural festivities, but I got enough from the recaps — both in writing and video — to observe two things. First, if it wasn’t already clear, social media platforms and those who own and run them will figure prominently and positively during this administration. The seating chart alone holds that promise.

My second observation is that change is coming rapidly in this nation — as rapidly as the stroke of a pen. The number and breadth of executive orders proved that. By nightfall, the landscape of our country, culture and government had changed drastically.

Given my impressions above, this month’s cover story could not be more appropriate. Not everyone would agree with my observations of Inauguration Day, but I believe the perils our journalists face are playing out in real-time.

Gretchen Peck made the case strongly in “A perilous period for freedom of the press: Journalists confront physical threats and legal challenges.” The threats are sometimes physical — even to the point of death. More often, the threats are legal, and those threats can be just as daunting in this litigious society. They can take up precious time, money and resources, which newsrooms can rarely afford.

These legal threats are coming at every level — from federal down to the smallest local area. We must be vigilant and do whatever is necessary to protect your newsroom and employees. No matter the size of your community, news organization or staff, the possibility of threats is real and can’t be overlooked.

At the same time, what we do to bring accountability to power is never more critical than today. We can’t back down from our mandate to provide truthful information to our communities — even in the face of risk.

As Leonard Woolsey, president of Southern Newspapers, the president and publisher of The Daily News in Galveston, Texas, and the president of America’s Newspapers for 2024-2025, said in our cover story, “I am all about being held accountable for the truth, as do those I work alongside at The Daily News, but God help us if the truth is suppressed by our fear of an army of lawyers showing up on our doorstep, akin to a mobster sending in his or her muscle.”

It’s a new era. Don’t back down from the truth. However, protect yourself.

Robin Blinder is E&P's editor-in-chief. She has been with E&P for five years. She can be reached at robin@editorandpublisher.com.