At first glance, USA Today may not seem like an obvious candidate for a “Hall of Shame.” Compared to overtly ideological outlets like Rolling Stone or The Nation, USA Today presents itself as cheerful, accessible, and middle-of-the-road. Its colorful graphics, digest-style layout, and bite-sized summaries are designed to appeal to a broad, mainstream audience. But…
Media Hall of Shame Series: The Chicago Tribune
Founded in 1847, the Chicago Tribune once branded itself as “The World’s Greatest Newspaper.” That was no modest claim, but there was a time it might have been taken seriously. For decades, the paper wielded enormous influence over Midwestern politics and national opinion, often leaning Republican and embracing a muscular editorial tone. However, like so…