The Press Must Explain Its Stunning Double Standard on Leaks

Julian Zelizer : Eight years ago , the media was drenched with leaked emails from Hillary Clinton’s campaign.

But unlike the frenzy of 2016 , major news outlets have chosen to sit on this information, only revealing its existence weeks after the fact.

Zelizer asks: Has the media learned from its past mistakes, or is this an overcorrection in a way that just happens to benefit Donald Trump ?.

Julian Zelizer : In 2016 , major news outlets received emails from a mysterious figure calling himself “ Robert .” Zelizer says they sat on the information, conducting their own investigations and deliberations.

He says the media’s restraint has been notable in the wake of the alleged hack of the Trump campaign.

Zelizer argues that this cautious approach represents a shift from 2016 .

The media's failure to acknowledge and atone for their role in 2016 election coverage leaves a gaping hole in the public’s understanding of how and why news organizations have changed their tactics.

This silence not only undermines trust in journalism but also allows for additional double standards that consistently seem to benefit one side of the political aisle.