“Quiet Piggy!”

I can’t say it came as too much of a surprise when President Donald Trump scolded a journalist with such harsh words back in November 2025. Instances of harassment and abuse toward journalists are becoming normalized, especially from high-level officials who should be leading by example. 

On Feb. 3, when asked by journalist Kaitlan Collins about the Epstein Files, Trump again responded with a harsh insult, “You’re so bad. You know, you are the worst reporter. No wonder… CNN has no ratings because of people like you.”

He continued to make more general misogynistic comments toward her, “You know, she’s a young woman… I don’t think I’ve ever seen you smile. I’ve known you for 10 years. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a smile on your face.”

The Committee to Protect Journalists estimated that between 1996 and 2026 about 17 journalists and media workers were killed in the United States as a result of their work. 

Since Trump took office, there has been a dramatic increase in violence against journalists, according to a Guardian article. The rise is partly because of the increase in civil unrest, which journalists cover, making them more vulnerable to attacks. But anti-media rhetoric from the president and other public officials has also increased hostility toward journalists.

The White House has created an official web page that lists media outlets and reporters as misleading and biased. The page consists of a media offender of the week, as well as an offender hall of shame. The entire website reeks of propaganda. 

Further anti-media actions coming from the nation’s capitol include restricting media access, FCC inquiries into media companies, cancellation of funding for public broadcasting and radio, and personal lawsuits from Trump against media companies.

It all sets a precedent and standard.

Maybe I’m biased as a writer and journalist myself, but in the same way you shouldn’t curse out the server who brings you your food, you shouldn’t insult and degrade the journalists who keep you informed.

University of Iowa School of Journalism and Mass Communication’s associate professor of practice, Erin Jordan, explained to me that over the last 10 to 20 years, the prestige previously afforded to journalists has eroded to some degree. 

Jordan attributed this erosion and the subsequent lack of respect for journalists to several factors, including a decline in the overall number of journalists and a reduced respect for the profession. 

“It’s really easy when you don’t like what journalists are reporting, to criticize the journalist,” Jordan said. “Journalists are facing the brunt of people’s anger or frustration about what’s being reported.”

Indeed, in a society that seems to be dissolving from the center and the edges simultaneously, the subjects journalists report on are not always the most favorable to audiences. 

It may be easy to blame the journalists, who seem to be at the forefront of these issues, as the ones who get involved with and break the news. But don’t blame the journalists. Blame the politicians who set the systems up, or the people responsible for the crimes and violations we’re told about. 

Don’t shoot the messengers, who are merely doing their vital jobs; the alternative is living in an uninformed, ignorant society.

It is integral that government leaders step up to defend journalists when they see this mistreatment. Journalism is an important pillar of any functioning democracy, and if our government wants to avoid turning into an autocratic, fascist regime, they need to promote respect for the press. 

Journalists and news organizations must back up fellow journalists and stand in solidarity when such mistreatment is broadcast.

I see a need for more positivity in the media as well, a reminder that there is still good out there, and a counterbalance to all the negativity that might generate the negative sentiment behind journalistic attacks.

Whether it’s the recovery of an endangered species with the birth of a new, adorable baby, or a heartwarming story about a local do-gooder, positive news is as newsworthy as negative news.

Jordan said journalists should adhere to the highest standards of conduct and focus on controlling what they can and what is within their jurisdiction. 

Writing should be as factually accurate as possible, stories need to be well explained, and writers should be connecting with the audience so that they can see the value of what’s being reported. 

“Our credibility is all we really have as journalists, and when we do our work at a high level and are prepared to engage with the public about legitimate questions they have about what we’re reporting, that helps build trust,” she said. 

There is a strong need for media literacy among audiences as well. We’re surrounded by content generated by artificial intelligence, strong partisan divisions within the media, and sensational, yellow-page journalism. Consumers of news media need to carefully consider the sources they receive information from. 

Amid declining news consumption and a turbulent political and socio-economic landscape, the production and consumption of news have never been more important. We need to promote trust in and respect for journalists to uphold this critical pillar of democracy or we risk falling victim to a regime where books and media are burned, narratives are rewritten, and the watchdogs and whistleblowers are silenced. It’s all rather dystopian.