The Role of Media in Shaping Populist Leadership

It’s intriguing, the media’s role over centuries in making or breaking the influence of governments. It’s the actual way of shaping public opinions and sharing political narratives because we show a lack of interest in the decision-making process of selecting a leader.

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Journalism is a powerful, persuasive tool. Media has gone through various shifts over time, and its alignment with political parties has also grown. Political leaders often incentivize the press to display a truth that favors them. Journalists have different relations with political parties, either through campaigns, administration, or congressional offices. Media is the societal watchdog, but sometimes its political association blurs its vision. Some of the most horrifying genocides and holocausts remained under the radar. The roars of populist leaders, which later became national slogans, have always been amplified by the media. Whether in the era of Donald Trump or Imran Khan, the media has always broken down complex information and created a simplified version that resonated with the majority.

Some figures, like Donald Trump, have termed the media “fake news” and branded them the “enemy of the people”—hilarious, right? Trump understood the power of media and used it to his advantage during his campaigns. The media highlighted his incendiary remarks towards his opponents and the system.

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The coverage of his campaign highlighted his provocative rhetoric, scandals, and conflicts to ensure he remained in the spotlight. Twitter was majorly used to bypass other media tools, and his tweets fanned the flames, creating a narrative of being the most unfiltered, humorous, and the voice of the forgotten. Media was highly polarized—FOX News favored him while CNN and other outlets frequently criticized him. Throughout Trump’s presidency, particularly during the 2020 election, the spread of misinformation was rampant. Trump and his allies used social media platforms to promote election fraud. While mainstream media outlets fact-checked and debunked many of these claims, the media’s coverage of these controversies often contributed to public confusion and a deepening distrust in the electoral process.

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Imran Khan’s journey during his political career was also shaped by the media. He was crafted as a leader of the common people. His campaigns were primarily to awaken people and to make them stand against the “status quo” and injustices of society. People idealized Khan’s idiosyncratic personality. The media’s portrayal of his large public rallies and protests helped solidify his image as a populist leader with widespread support. His quirky statements and wickedly funny criticism of his opponents were always brought to the forefront.

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This agenda has its pitfalls. Stories that align with a particular political and ideological stance receive disproportionate coverage and are often downplayed or ignored. The lines between genuine news and propaganda become obscured. Media has colossal power but should primarily focus on influencing and entertaining, not provoking. We’ve got to be careful that the public is truly informed.

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The Role of Media in Shaping Populist Leadership

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