Legendary sportscaster Bob Costas took aim at media coverage of President Donald Trump during his speech at Syracuse University on Monday night, criticizing major outlets for how they have managed the narrative around the former president. Costas denounced ABC News’ decision to settle its defamation case with Trump over remarks made by George Stephanopoulos, calling the move a ‘ransom.’
The former voice of baseball and the Olympics also targeted Paramount over a ’60 Minutes’ lawsuit, describing the reported settlement offer as part of the same kind of compromise. Costas argued that media companies make mistakes and have ‘blind spots and misplaced narratives,’ but he expressed concerns that any effort to correct Trump’s actions should not serve his own interests.
Costas said that the normalization of Trump’s behavior has made it seem like there’s always two sides to every story, even when there isn’t. He emphasized that certain truths, like Trump’s lack of regard for American principles and common decency, should not be subject to political correction. The broadcast legend also received the Fred Dressler Leadership Award for his contributions to media understanding.
Legendary sportscaster Bob Costas took a sharp stance against media outlets during his speech at Syracuse University on Monday night, criticizing the way major networks have reported on President Donald Trump’s actions. Costas focused on ABC News’ decision to settle its defamation case with Trump over George Stephanopoulos’ comments about the E. Jean Carroll lawsuit, labeling the move as ‘ransom.’
The former voice of baseball and the Olympics also criticized Paramount over its attempt to settle a ’60 Minutes’ lawsuit, which he called another example of the same kind of compromise. Costas argued that while media companies make mistakes and have ‘blind spots and misplaced narratives,’ any effort to correct Trump’s actions should not serve his agenda. He suggested such corrections would align with Trump’s world view, which, according to Costas, is driven by personal benefit and lacks moral principles.
Costas pointed out that the normalization of Trump’s behavior in the media has created a false narrative that there are always two sides to every issue, even when there isn’t. He emphasized that certain truths, like Trump’s disregard for American values and common decency, should not be subject to political correction. The broadcast legend also received the Fred Dressler Leadership Award for his contributions to media understanding.
The former broadcast legend received the Fred Dressler Leadership Award, which is given to individuals or organizations that have made distinct, consistent, and unique contributions to the public’s understanding of the media, according to the Newhouse School’s website.
Costas’ comments have sparked discussions about the role of media in covering political figures, especially when they are at the forefront of contentious issues. As he stated, the challenge for journalists is maintaining objectivity in the face of political influence. His critique underscores the ongoing debate about media responsibility and the ethical implications of how political narratives are framed and presented to the public.