Biden Calls Out Billionaire-Owned Media, Laments Shifting Journalism Landscape
As his presidency nears its end, President Joe Biden voiced concerns about the changing media landscape, pointing to billionaires acquiring major newspapers and shifting traditional journalism norms.
During an interview on Thursday with MeidasTouch host Ben Meiselas, Biden discussed how technology and corporate influence have dramatically altered the media industry.
Biden on Media Evolution: ‘Technology is Changing Everything’
When Meiselas asked why positive news about the Biden economy wasn’t widely reported and whether the media focused too much on “horse race” politics, Biden blamed evolving technology.
“Technology is changing everything,” Biden said. “There are very few editors anymore, very few people saying, ‘You can’t write that.'”
He praised independent media voices for prioritizing truth but noted that corporate ownership of traditional media has made unbiased reporting more difficult.
Biden Blasts Billionaires Buying Major Newspapers
Biden specifically called out wealthy individuals purchasing legacy newspapers and changing their editorial direction.
“You have billionaires buying standard newspapers that are well known and saying, ‘We’re not going to do that anymore because I don’t want to do it,'” Biden stated, adding that it would take time for the industry to “sort itself out.”
While he didn’t mention names, Biden seemed to reference recent high-profile media acquisitions that disrupted traditional political endorsements in the 2024 election.
The Washington Post and LA Times Controversy
One of the most notable cases involved Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, owner of The Washington Post, who ended the newspaper’s long-standing practice of endorsing a presidential candidate.
Reports indicated that the editorial board had already prepared an endorsement for then-candidate Kamala Harris before Bezos stepped in to block it. This decision angered liberal staffers, as The Washington Post had previously endorsed both Hillary Clinton (2016) and Biden (2020) over Donald Trump and was known for its strong anti-Trump stance.
Similarly, Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, owner of the Los Angeles Times, prevented his liberal editorial board from endorsing Harris, prompting backlash from journalists and leading to staff resignations.
Biden Reflects on His Presidency: ‘No Regrets’
During the interview, Biden was not asked about his decision to drop out of the 2024 race, Harris’ loss to President-elect Trump, or his controversial pardon of Hunter Biden.
However, when asked whether he had any regrets about his presidency, Biden responded “generically” that he did not.
The Future of Journalism: Where Do We Go From Here?
Biden’s comments highlight a broader concern about the future of journalism, as traditional newspapers once known for independent editorial voices are increasingly influenced by wealthy owners and shifting priorities.
As technology continues to reshape how Americans consume news, the debate over media integrity, billionaire influence, and editorial independence is likely to intensify.
Source: Fox News
