Mar 27, 2025
The Gaslit Nation Media Committee, a watchdog against access journalism and regime propaganda, has developed this essential guide. We urge all members of the media to reject complicity in the erosion of democracy.
The American crisis is a global struggle between democracy and fascism—one that threatens the entire world. Each of us has a role in defending freedom. If you work in media, use this guide to safeguard your integrity, your liberty, and the values we cherish—before it’s too late. Doing your job well can save lives and democracy.
1. Don’t Bury the Lede: Call It an Illegal
Tech-Backed Coup
To build trust, stick to the facts. When Trump’s administration
acts illegally, say it—especially in the headline. Call it what it
is: a tech-backed coup that exposes Americans' most sensitive data
and replaces federal workers with unsecured A.I. to establish a new
surveillance state.
2. Make Private Prison Execs Famous
Investigate the financial interests behind Trump’s immigration
system—expose executives, board members, and their connections.
Pursue them with cameras; they can’t hide behind profits while
lives are ruined and civil liberties eroded.
3. Fascism Needs Ignorance
From dismantling the Department of Education to the “War on Woke”
in universities, Trump continues delegitimizing education. This
isn’t about competition with other countries—it’s about giving
everyone the chance to grow as independent thinkers who reject
fascism.
4. Follow the Money
Investigate Trump’s major donors and their role in Musk’s illegal
purge of government services. Hold them accountable—ask how they
view their investments amid the chaos. Track their contracts and
regulatory benefits.
5. Expose National Security Threats
Trump removed key military officials who prevented unlawful
actions. Without them, who will stop him? Trump holds the nuclear
football, cozying up to adversaries, sending bombs to Israel, and
threatening wars against Canada and Greenland. Focus on how our
adversaries are taking advantage.
6. Kleptowatch
Focus on how companies exploit customers through greedflation and
Amazon’s payola for search visibility. While the Biden
administration has much to answer for, the media must spotlight the
absence of enforcement of investigations brought by Lina Khan and
Tim Wu, leaving corporate kleptocrats unchecked.
7. Media Must Thoroughly Cover
Media
Journalists must cover media attacks, including blocked
access to info and censorship (e.g., Ann Telnaes at WaPo). Report
on media ecosystem shifts, address bias, and clarify distinctions
between reporting, opinion, and lies. Provide context on media
ownership.
8. Draw Historical Parallels
Trump, Musk, and allies are enacting policies similar to dictators
like Hitler, Mussolini, and Stalin. The media must challenge their
unfounded assertions. They are attacking the press and critics,
reminiscent of regimes like Pol Pot’s and Rwanda's genocide.
9. Trump is Trying to Turn America into an Autocracy:
Act Like It
Columbia Journalism Review shared
10 essential tips for journalists reporting from autocracies.
Share these with your teams, including your company's
lawyers—killing big stories and obeying in advance is
self-destructive.
10. Shine a Light on Private Prisons
The private prison industry needs scrutiny, especially with Trump’s
lack of oversight. Innocent people are caught in reckless
immigration raids as the system grows unchecked. Regular coverage
of Guantanamo Bay is crucial due to its history of unlawful
detention and Trump’s plan for a prison camp there for 30,000
people.
11. Gilead is Here
The media has abandoned calling out Trump’s toxic
masculinity regarding reproductive rights and civil rights. Raise
awareness of the deadly consequences for women, including trans
women, and all nonwhite people.
12. Access Journalism is Betrayal
Fascism’s history includes journalists from major outlets becoming
"masters of euphemism," (to quote Gareth Jones), downplaying
atrocities and broken laws to protect access. History will remember
you for doing your job or being bought. Doing your job well can
save lives and democracy.
13. Family Members Deserve Special Attention
Trump’s administration is granting lucrative positions to family
members of allies and donors, giving them undue influence over
policy. These self-dealing networks must be mapped and
exposed.
14. Unmask Voter Suppression
Election analysis must address gerrymandering, unfair Senate
representation favoring "red states," the Electoral College
designed to protect elites, and the gutting of the Voting Rights
Act. Don’t treat our voter suppression crisis like "horse race"
politics.
15. Focus on the 1%
Expose extreme wealth inequality—how the 1% dodge taxes and
exploit loopholes to preserve their wealth. Put a spotlight on how
inequality fuels authoritarianism and is a direct threat to
democracy.
16. Cover Protests
Highlight actions challenging the White House’s destructive crimes.
People need to see that citizens care about the laws being broken
by Trump’s administration and that they're not alone.
17. They're Testing Boundaries: Say It
When something is "unprecedented," that means they're testing
boundaries, to see what they can get away with. Say it.
18. The Weird Fights Matter
Trump renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America may seem
"weird," but it's part of the fascist pageantry, like Mussolini's
famous eyeliner and Putin's shirtless photos. Look to experts in
autocracy to see which stories are being used as a distraction and
which stories are important to cover.
An expanded version of the Gaslit Nation Media Guide can be found here: https://www.gaslitnationpod.com/media-guide
For More: Ten Tips for Reporting in an Autocracy American journalists have much to learn from colleagues in countries where democracy has been under siege. https://www.cjr.org/political_press/ten-tips-for-reporting-in-an-autocracy.php
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Music Credit: "Tafi Maradi no voice" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/