Media News Daily: Top Stories for 05/13/2025

NYT’s Joe Kahn: Trump Coverage Every 30 Minutes Reflects “Reality” of Newsworthiness

New York Times executive editor Joe Kahn revealed that the paper has, at times, published stories about Donald Trump every half hour, underscoring the constant news cycle surrounding the president. Speaking at the Sir Harry Evans Investigative Journalism Summit, Kahn and fellow panelists defended the intensity of Trump coverage, with Reuters’ Alessandra Galloni stating he is “remaking the world order.” Kahn emphasized the importance of accountability journalism, noting that significant stories still “break through” to both the public and even to Trump himself. He highlighted NYT’s independence, lack of government or ad revenue, and diverse audience, asserting that these factors place the outlet in a strong position amid media challenges. Read More (Press Gazette Rating)

Sharp Decline in Free Speech Support Among Young Americans

A March 2025 report from The Future of Free Speech finds a steep decline in free speech support among Americans aged 18 to 34. Only 43% now support the right to insult the U.S. flag, down from 71% in 2021. The study also reveals drops in tolerance for pro-LGBTQ+ and religiously offensive speech. Analysts suggest a political rightward drift among Gen Z may influence this shift. Concerns about hate speech and harmful content also appear to drive younger Americans’ increasing skepticism toward unrestricted expression. While most still support criticism of government, support for provocative speech is weakening, raising questions about future interpretations of the First Amendment. Read More (The Conversation Rating)

X’s Community Notes Hits 1 Million Contributors but Faces Reliability Issues

X’s (formerly Twitter) Community Notes program now has one million users contributing to the fact-checking process. While praised for decentralizing content moderation and reducing platform bias, research shows serious flaws. A 2023 CCDH analysis found that 73% of politically relevant notes are never shown, and another study by Maldita found 85% of all notes are not displayed due to the platform’s requirement for cross-partisan agreement. This has allowed misinformation to persist. Despite improvements, including faster turnaround times, critics warn the system can be manipulated and should supplement, not replace, professional moderation and fact-checking. Read More (Social Media Today Rating)