[Neologism Dictionary] Lamestream Media - Confirmation Bias That Despises the Press

The term used contemptuously by President Trump to disparage media outlets that were not favorable to him, "Lame-stream media," combines the words lame (crippled, insufficient) and mainstream. Illustration by artist Oh Seong-su

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] U.S. President Donald Trump labels mainstream media outlets such as CNN, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), and The New York Times (NYT) as "fake news." His anger intensified as the impact of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused shifts in his presidential approval ratings. In a June poll conducted by NYT surveying 1,337 voters asking "If the presidential election were held today, who would you vote for?", only 36% responded they would vote for President Trump, while 50% chose former Vice President Biden. In response, President Trump tweeted, "Fake news and fake polls have never been worse," adding that the "Lamestream Media is going crazier."

The term "Lamestream Media," used contemptuously by President Trump to describe media unfavorable to him, combines the words lame (crippled, insufficient) and mainstream. He has frequently used it since last year, especially as critical reports about his handling of the Russia scandal, racial justice protests, and the rapidly spreading COVID-19 pandemic increased. This term is seen as an attempt to undermine the credibility of mainstream media or to shift public opinion. However, even social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook, which he often uses as alternatives to directly express his views, do not seem to be absolute allies. After criticisms of spreading misinformation, some of his posts have been deleted, which is a painful issue for President Trump. A notable example is a Facebook video claiming "children have immunity to COVID-19." Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg stated in an interview with CNBC, "We are prepared to remove any posts by President Trump that violate our company standards." It may not be an exaggeration to say that social media has joined the ranks of the Lamestream Media following mainstream outlets.

Usage Example

A: Why does President Trump call mainstream media "Lamestream"?
B: Probably because belittling media that doesn't support him helps strengthen his own claims.
A: I read in The Washington Post that he has lied 20,000 times since taking office.
B: Think about the last election. He was a total outsider but rose quickly with bold statements and won. He probably sees that as his strength and asset.
A: Those who rise by words may fall by words. Let's watch closely until the election.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.