Someone Should Tell Mainstream Media Their Job is To Inform, Not Entertain

It’s been said before, but it bears repeating: The job of mainstream media is to inform, not entertain. Yet, as we saw on last night’s episode of CNN’s News Night with Abby Phillip, that distinction feels increasingly blurred. Phillip hosted what was supposed to be a political discussion, but instead, viewers were served a display of unchallenged racism when one guest made offensive remarks about Mehdi Hasan—another journalist with a reputation for sharp, informed commentary.

Rather than shut it down in real time or hold the speaker accountable, Phillip let the moment unfold, offering only restrained discomfort that felt more like a performance of neutrality than journalism in action. This failure to confront racism head-on in a supposedly informative program reveals the growing problem with corporate media: it prioritizes sensationalism and "balanced" optics over truth-telling.

When "Balance" Becomes the Shield for Bigotry

There’s this misguided belief in mainstream newsrooms that every story requires a “both sides” perspective—even when one of those sides is racism. During the segment, the panelist made disparaging comments about Mehdi Hasan that carried clear racial undertones, bordering on Islamophobia. But instead of addressing the bigotry for what it was, the show moved forward as if the racist take deserved equal consideration.

This is not journalism; it’s theater. And it’s a dangerous theater at that. By platforming these comments without strong pushback, Phillip’s program sent an implicit message: that racist rhetoric is just another valid “opinion” to toss into the marketplace of ideas. But let’s be clear—racism is not a point of view. It’s violence. It has no place in a civilized debate, especially on a platform with the reach and influence of CNN.

The Problem with Corporate Media’s Priorities

What happened last night is part of a broader trend in mainstream media, where clicks, ratings, and sensational moments are prioritized over accountability. Too many networks have embraced the model of infotainment—choosing conflict over clarity, shock value over substance. The result is that critical issues are reduced to provocative soundbites, and the public is left under-informed.

This isn’t a new problem. We’ve seen the media shy away from uncomfortable truths when racial or cultural tensions are involved. From the polite handling of white supremacy during the Trump era to the network’s reluctance to call January 6th what it was—an insurrection—journalists keep missing the mark. In each instance, mainstream media appears more concerned with looking objective than being right. When journalists refuse to call out racism in the moment, they become complicit in spreading it.

Inform, Don’t Entertain

Journalism is not a spectator sport. The role of the press is to educate, empower, and hold the powerful accountable—not to entertain audiences with easy conflict. When networks like CNN allow these kinds of moments to slide by unchecked, they erode public trust and contribute to the normalization of hate. There is a difference between informing the public and inflaming tensions, and that difference is what separates responsible journalism from dangerous spectacle.

So, what’s it going to be, mainstream media? Will you continue chasing ratings by peddling in performative debates and false balance? Or will you rise to the moment, recognizing that in times like these, neutrality isn’t a virtue—it’s a cop-out?

It’s time to make a choice. Someone should remind mainstream media of its job: to inform, not entertain. Because when the line between the two gets blurred, the people who need the truth the most are the ones who suffer.

What Abby Phillip Should Have Done

This is not about shaming Abby Phillip personally, but it is about the responsibility that comes with her position. As the host and moderator of that segment, Phillip had an opportunity to interrupt the racist narrative, challenge the panelist directly, and shift the conversation toward truth. But that didn’t happen. And unfortunately, this is emblematic of how mainstream outlets often fail to engage in meaningful ways when race is at the center of the discussion.

Imagine how different the segment could have been if Phillip had said, “No, we are not going to let that stand. Mehdi Hasan is not only a brilliant journalist, but what you’ve just said is inappropriate and irrelevant to this conversation.” Imagine if, instead of neutrality, we got accountability. That’s what journalism is supposed to look like.

Instead, the show continued as though the moment didn’t matter—and in doing so, the platform gave racism a free pass. The viewers deserved better. Hasan deserved better. And, frankly, so did Abby Phillip.