America's prominent newspaper, The Washington Post, laid off more than one-third of its entire staff at once this year. [AP=Yonhap News]

The Reason for the Existence of the Media

The reason the media exists is to monitor power and convey truth. The media has long played a crucial role in democracy, hence it is called the 'Fourth Estate' alongside the legislative, judicial, and executive branches. It is an entity that stands outside of power and poses questions to power; that was the media.

But now, where is that media?

The world saw what the media truly is when Bob Woodward investigated Watergate, and when Dong-A Ilbo reporters resisted with blank advertisements. They too were people who knocked on the newsroom doors with the resolve to write properly in the first place.

I want to ask the reporters writing articles today: Is that resolve still alive?

The Day the Media Became a Cartel

At some point, instead of conveying facts, the media began to 'manage' them. Names like The New York Times, CNN, and The Washington Post were once the standard for journalism. But at some point, under the guise of objectivity, they started to voice the opinions of specific political factions.

Even in the process, they began to 'preach' to the public. They defined DEI, LGBTQ+ rights, and anti-Trump sentiment as correct answers, and portrayed those who disagreed as ignorant or hateful. This marked the completion of a 'media cartel' that colluded with new powers such as owners, advertisers, and ideological groups.

Ordinary people living busy lives had no choice but to accept the narratives they presented. And now, the bill is coming due.

What the Numbers Tell Us

As of January 2026, Fox News has maintained its number one position in cable TV news for 24 consecutive years. Prime-time viewership is between 2.4 and 2.6 million, an increase of over 10-15% compared to the previous year. This dominance over other broadcasters stems from the conservative base consolidating after the Trump administration took office.

In contrast, CNN's viewership plummeted by 15-20% throughout 2025. Its average daily viewership is between 500,000 and 600,000, merely a quarter of Fox News's viewership.

Notably, viewership among the 25-54 age group, which advertisers consider most important, dropped by over 30%. This is not just a decline in ratings but a signal that its commercial viability itself is being shaken.

Bezos's Choice, WP's Confession

The most dramatic scene unfolded at The Washington Post (WP). In 2025, WP's print newspaper subscriptions fell below 100,000 for the first time in 55 years. Digital subscriptions also entered a period of stagnation.

After acquiring WP in 2013, Jeff Bezos, facing continuous losses, finally made a decision. He discontinued the decades-long tradition of endorsing presidential candidates and began to rein in radical activists who had gained prominence within the newsroom.

This is not merely a declaration of neutrality. It is an implicit admission that they had colluded with the entrenched bureaucratic system, often referred to as the 'deep state,' to cover up inconvenient truths like the Epstein affair, and had engaged in overtly biased reporting on matters critical to the nation's survival.

WP is now striving to return to the values America has long upheld: liberal democracy and individual responsibility. The market has humbled their arrogance.

CNN is going through an even more painful time. It is struggling to be reborn as a traditional news organization, dismantling its sensational debate format and with rumors of recruiting a moderate-leaning management team circulating. Everyone knows this is by no means an easy task.

The Expiration Date of Ideological Commerce

The DEI and LGBTQ+ discourse, which mainstream media has defended like a shield, is also facing backlash. Surveys from 2025 indicate that many Americans have begun to view these policies not as issues of social fairness, but as tools for injecting leftist ideology into society.

Names like The New York Times, CNN, and The Washington Post were once the standard for journalism. But at some point, under the guise of objectivity, they started to voice the opinions of specific political factions.

The public has turned away from the forced political correctness (PC) that infringes upon religious freedom and the transgender surgeries for minors.

The New York Times's pivot towards gaming, cooking, and sports instead of political debates, and its reliance on the so-called 'Bundle' strategy, can be seen as their own admission that they can no longer sustain themselves on ideology alone.

The Owner of Truth Has Changed

As legacy media falters, social media and independent media have filled the void. These include X (formerly Twitter), acquired by Elon Musk, and independent podcasts that command tens of millions of followers with just a microphone and no studio.

Joe Rogan's podcast records tens of millions of views per episode. His interview with Trump alone surpassed 33 million views, which is dozens of times the prime-time viewership of CNN as a whole.

The reason is simple. While mainstream media edits statements into 15-second clips, cutting out context, Rogan lets the conversation flow for three hours. People trust the authenticity that comes from unedited, long conversations more than the polished summaries of anchors.

X's 'Community Notes' are even more interesting. The core of this system is that a note is not adopted simply because many people agree with it.

It is only made public if it receives a "helpful" rating from both sides of the political spectrum. This design structurally prevents its abuse by one faction pushing through with numbers. Citizens have, in effect, begun to share the gatekeeping role that was once monopolized by newsroom editors.

40% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly. That number exceeds 100 million. By 2026, podcasts will no longer be niche media.

Lessons for Korean Media to Engrave

Does all of this still sound like a story from a faraway land across the Pacific? The reasons CNN lost viewers are not simple. It is because they packaged specific ideologies as truth and portrayed those who disagreed with them as ignorant or dangerous.

Mainstream media in Korea is no different. They are indifferent to ROK-U.S.-Japan cooperation and lenient towards forces that destabilize national security.

Is it that difficult to report on the explosive market risks, such as sharp stock price fluctuations or rapid currency surges? Even if mainstream media criticizes U.S. policy and ignores market truths, will international affairs or the country's economy follow the reporting?

The results are already reflected in the numbers. Korean viewers have long since noticed this and turned to YouTube instead of terrestrial news. The market's judgment is not confined to America.

When the media covers up the truth and becomes a subordinate of certain factions, the outcome has always been the same. The reason The Washington Post is trying to return to American values, albeit belatedly, and CNN is attempting to revert to traditional news is not due to a grand awakening. It is the only way to survive.

Korean media faces the same choice. Will they be buried with the collapsing ideological Babel tower, or will they return to truth and national interest? The market's judgment has already begun, and no one can escape it.

Freedom of the press earns trust only when it is accompanied by responsibility. It was true in the past, it is true now, and it will remain true in the future.

◆ Dr. Shin Dong-chun

Ph.D. in Public Administration, Representative of the National Alliance for Liberal Unification. After passing the 21st Higher Civil Service Examination, he had a career in public service, followed by active engagement as a CEO, university professor, media contributor, author, and chairman of the Global Aerospace Industry Association.