Journalists know how to get the goods, and by that I mean they know what questions to ask to expose truths, unveil personalities and unleash opinions.
Enter ABC’s foreign correspondent and global affairs editor John Lyons who recently pissed off President Trump by having the audacity to ask him a question that didn’t inflate the president’s ego.
“In my opinion, you are hurting Australia very much right now,” Trump stated to Lyons after being asked about his recent business dealings.
Everyone, Australia is actually fine. First Aid responders please stand down.
Trump not wanting to provide an answer doesn’t mean Lyons stepped over the line asking the question. In fact, there isn’t a line when it comes to what journalists can ask public officials. More of a suggested approach.
This issue comes down to transparency. The public has a right to know what kind of people are serving as elected public officials and journalists bring us these details by asking probing questions. This is what a journalist does and of all people why should politicians be exempt from being asked uncomfortable questions?
The answer is that they shouldn’t be. In fact, politicians should be considered free-for-all territory as far as journalistic interrogation goes. In Australia there is a Journalist code of ethics and, while no law can force adherence to the code, any journalist striving for respect and a decent career will find themselves compliant to its rules.
Politicians aren’t everyday people going about their everyday routines. These people hold positions of power and with that comes privilege, so they need to be transparent with the public to prove they’ve maintained ethical standards.
Being the respectable journalist that Lyons is, he followed the code. A question about business dealings that has resulted in extreme wealth while holding the powerful seat of POTUS? I call that fair. Therefore, President Trump owes not just Lyons but all of us answers.
If you don’t want to be asked questions about your business dealings while in office; if you want to be left alone by the media and not have your decisions questioned; and if you don’t want your daily interactions along with other public servants to be broadcasted publicly then might I suggest that you don’t become a politician.
Perhaps flipping burgers and serving chips might be more up your alley.
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Hilda Hinton 
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Fynn McGroder