For Media Outlets Trump Is Both a Gift and a Curse

By now you’ve heard (or saw) that former president Donald Trump was given a platform on CNN and allowed to host a town hall style “conversation” with republican leaning New Hampshire undecided voters; No surprise, it was a ratings hit, scoring more than 3 million viewers and topping cable news that day. What was also no surprise was the swift backlash from many which likely led to CNN having a ratings plunge just a few days later. “What the Trump town hall should have shown us are the inherent issues that come with covering someone like President Trump.” Says entertainment executive, producer and attorney Warren D. Robinson, “he makes news and generates headlines which in turn increase ratings and clicks but on the other side he incites backlash making it a tough choice for most media outlets.” Robinson adds that Trump’s position as both a former president and current front runner for the Republican nomination for President complicates this analysis. “By position he is entitled to the amount of news coverage he receives,” says Robinson, “but media outlets have to decide if the newsworthiness is worth the cost. Just ask Fox News who recently had to pay over $700 million for promoting the former President’s lies.” In the end, Robinson believes the media will have to cover Trump but they need to develop some rules to determine when and how much, “They need a litmus test to determine which Trump stories or news are worthy of coverage.”

According to a statement, “Entertainment executive and producer, Warren D. Robinson believes that when organizations are willing to have open and honest conversations about race and their own bias they can commit to meaningful change. We have seen this recently in the form of Hollywood award shows, particularly, the Grammys and the Academy Awards (Oscars). The Recording Academy and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have both taken concrete steps to diversify their ranks and address inherit biases in their voting processes. As a result we have the most diverse crop of award winners/nominees, respectively, we’ve ever seen. Contrast that with the scandal and production shutdown currently at CBS’s The Talk, which resulted because a co-host was unable to properly engage in a conversation about race, address her own bias and commit to doing better. ‘The key part to every conversation’ Warren says, ‘starts with listening. Listening and hearing are different and if you are unable to listen then you are unable to have a conversation.’

 

“Warren D. Robinson, is an avid and accomplished entertainment executive, motivational speaker, host, life coach and award winning producer who created the wildly popular series, Buried by the Bernards, which is currently streaming on Netflix.

 

“Warren has served as an entertainment consultant, manager and producer, facilitating, appearing and negotiating high powered deals on behalf of his clients in front of such companies as: Warner Brothers, BET, CNN, Freemantle, Best Buy, TV ONE, Netflix, Lifetime, Fox News, WE TV, E!, NBC Universal, Viacom and more. In addition, Warren’s entertainment prowess includes coordinating, partnering and/or producing events for: legendary actress Pam Grier, Taraji P Henson, Gabrielle Union, Vivica A Fox, Soul singer Eddie Levert (of the O’Jays), Comedian Mike Epps, Angie Stone, Flavor Flav, the Indianapolis Colts, Donna Joyner-Richardson, Stephanie Mills, Erykah Badu and Tom Joyner among others. Warren graduated from Indiana University (B.A.-Political Science) and Howard University School Of Law (J.D.).”

Learn more about Warren D. Robinson and his work here.

 

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LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW IN ITS ENTIRETY HERE