The Wall Street Journal recently published a commentary that states President Donald Trump crossed a line when he accused the New York Times of treason. The piece noted that the nation’s founders considered treason the gravest of crimes and that tossing around the charge is irresponsible and wrong.
Trump made the accusation after the Times published a thoroughly vetted report about increased U.S. cyberattacks on Russia.
The Shop Talk panelists believe Trump overreacted and explain why they agree with the WSJ’s assertion that the president crossed a line when he accused the paper of treason.
Shop Talk is a weekly panel discussion about journalism issues. This week’s program featured Will Buss, who teaches in the Department of Broadcasting and Journalism at Western Illinois University and advises the student editors at the Western Courier; Patrick Johnson, who teaches in the Department of Broadcasting and Journalism at WIU and advises Western’s student radio station WIUS/The Dog; and TSPR News Director Rich Egger.
