Is the Press Prepared for the Possible Easing of Partisan Tensions?

Even though gridlock still dominates both Capitol Hill and America atlarge the harbingers of deescalation are beginning to gather Voters are paying attention to the hushes that perhaps a 2020 fusion ticket between Republican John Kasich and Democrat John Hickenlooper would shakeup the partisanship amp160Twenty Democratic candidates competing for House seats in November have been taking a more centrist approach and even publicly denouncing their partyamp8217s leadership amp160Is it time the press gets itself ready for the possible easing of partisan tensionsSometimes when we39re in the thick of things the tendency can be to expect that they39ll go on forever Whether itamp8217s the stock market or a basketball playeramp8217s shooting streak it can be hard to internalize that trends so often reverse amp160So despite the pundits acting as if polarization is a uniquely modern occurrence that will continue to shoot upwards indefinitely the simple fact is that polarization like so many phenomena has ebbed and flowed at various points in timeThe 1910amp8217s was a period of high polarization for example amp160The 1930amp8217s through the 1950amp8217s thanks to the socalled amp8220conservative coalitionamp8221 tended to keep the two parties somewhat grounded amp160Then for various reasons things started to go off the rails in the 1990amp8217s amp160Now weamp8217re awash with facts and figures reciting the number of Americans who believe the other party is a threat to the country or what percentage of Americans dread the idea of their child marrying someone from the other sideThe past decade gave us polarized responses to the Obama presidency the Tea Party and the election of 2016 and dramatic displays of partisanship in city streets and the halls of Congress amp160But today weamp8217re hearing more from organizations aimed at promoting compromise from Joe Lieberman and No Labels to Better Angels to Unite Americaamp160 Also moderate Democrats like Clarke Tucker and Conor Lamb are gaining steam in primary races and winning special elections amp160And on the Republican side elected officials such as Ben Sasse are making it known that they won39t roll over for President TrumpBut how is the media responding to these rumblings of ebbing gridlock amp160Right now by continuing with business as usual and doubling down on the divisive content amp160All the while only 32 of Americans are professing their confidence in the media and 72 say that quottraditional major news sources report news they know to be fake false or purposely misleadingquot amp160The Reuters Institute reports that the United States has some of the most polarized media in the world and John Boehner stressed to Politico Magazine that amp8220modernday media and social mediaamp8221 are at the heart of the partisan divisionAlthough the partisan content may sell to some segments of the population a Gallup poll last month registered 42 of Americans identifying as independents a full 15 points higher than the number identifying as Republicans and 16 points higher than Democrats amp160This is an increase from the 39 of Americans who called themselves independent in 2016With the approval ratings of the two main parties continuing to slope downwards itamp8217s not surprising that John McCain Joe Biden No Labels and the politics of civility are resonating as they areamp160 Yet the combative interviews divisive headlines and incessant harping on division continue on the part of the press amp160The coverage of McCainamp8217s death was a shining example amp160The media most wanted to discuss if the White House flag was at halfmast for long enough the Presidentamp8217s absence at his funeral or a couple of sentences in his daughteramp8217s eulogy amp160Forget about Bidenamp8217s amp8220I39m a Democrat and I love John McCainamp8221 speech or even the kind words of tributes offered by liberal stalwarts like Pelosi and SchumerHowever some publications are looking to get out in front of this potential shift or at the very least provide an alternative to the divisive sound bites amp160Whether it be Arc Digital Quillette Areo Magazine or my publication Merion West online outlets are pushing back against the partisan echo chambers amp160At Merion West we are overwhelmed by notes from readers telling us how much they appreciate an earnest commitment to representing all sidesWith all due respect to those such as Jane Mansbridge and her Washington Post oped proclaiming that quot polarization is here to stayquot a quick look at history tells us to expect otherwise amp160As the political realm starts to warm up to moderates and tires of the gridlock and namecalling will the media take this opportunity to anticipate a rediscovery of the center amp160Instead of hunkering down and continuing to prove John Boehner right perhaps this is the time to start moving away from the extremes amp160It seems after all that many Americans have already started on that journeyClick the social buttons above or below to share this content with your friends and colleaguesThe opinions and points of view expressed in this content are exclusively the views of the author andor subjects and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillagecomMyersBizNet Inc management or associated writersamp160

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Is the Press Prepared for the Possible Easing of Partisan Tensions?

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Erich J. Prince

FEMA and the Ad Council Encourage AANHPI Communities to Enhance Disaster Preparedness in New PSAs - Ad Council InSites

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Is the Press Prepared for the Possible Easing of Partisan Tensions?

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Erich J. Prince

FEMA and the Ad Council Encourage AANHPI Communities to Enhance Disaster Preparedness in New PSAs - Ad Council InSites

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