Conservatives may decry the alleged liberal tendencies of the so-called legacy media, but for one reporter the L.A. Times — a venerable legacy media star — is definitely not “woke” enough. Dana Bash is taking over John King‘s spot at CNN, hosting the popular program ‘Inside Politics’ at the network. The Times wrote about the change of personnel. Interesting (but relevant?) fact: Bash and King were once married.
What should media not do, according to Bash, in an evolved post me too media environment — in the year 2023? Well that’s easy. Don’t write a headline for your story that reads: “John King exits CNN’s ‘Inside Politics’ for new role. His ex-wife Dana Bash will succeed him.”
Hey @latimes – yes John and I used to be married. We are now friends and share a wonderful son together. In this context I am not an “ex wife,” I am a veteran journalist with decades of experience who worked hard for this role. Do better please. pic.twitter.com/ZE1SjDEtBL
— Dana Bash (@DanaBashCNN) April 27, 2023
Bash, sensitive to what she saw as a degrading characterization, replied on Twitter: “Hey @latimes – yes John and I used to be married. We are now friends and share a wonderful son together. In this context I am not an “ex wife,” I am a veteran journalist with decades of experience who worked hard for this role. Do better please.”
Bash may be the ex-wife in some other context, she implies, but not in her professional life and not in the business media coverage of the Times. No word as to whether a headline like “Dana Bash to take over ex-husband John King’s chair on ‘Inside Politics'” would have been better received.
It’s part of Bash’s point that such a headline wouldn’t likely be considered. It certainly wasn’t published that way. Plenty of Bash supporters applauded her retort in the comments. Conservative firebrand Meghan McCain retweeted it without adding a word.
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