• by Wayne Friedman , Staff Writer, February 8, 2017

And that’s what makes his content unavoidable. You need to tune in -- to news programming -- and then say: “He tweeted.. what?” No wonder cable TV networks continue to score big ratings three months after the election. He has our attention.

But there is more mystery -- especially when it comes to the quality of that content.

Jay Rosen, professor of journalism at NYU, said on MSNBC on Monday that some of the head-scratching White House-produced content is intentional: “The production of confusion is a method the Trump White House is using as control.”

Feel the same way after reading Trump tweets? Possibly. Trump supporters? It’s a shrug of the shoulders. Are their jobs coming back in realistically meaningful numbers? Will he deliver better medical care?

The tweets have yet to provide meaningful details. Policies are still vague.

Many will question fact and fiction in Trump’s two-week's worth of tweets, executive orders and press conferences. That’s what keeps the viewer honest. But does it keep TV advertisers that spend money on those networks honest?

Since Election Day, national TV advertisers have spent $287.3 million in Fox; $196.5 million in CNN; and $54.1 million on MSNBC, according to iSpot.tv. Maybe that is a vote of confidence.

Quality journalists continue to pursue all sides of the news they are reporting, doing their due diligence. As with any news story -- media business, general business, or otherwise -- if your sources and contacts aren’t accountable with facts, you consult other sources.

But what happens when this occurs with the highest, most powerful group of individuals in the U.S?  Where do you go? 

As Trump continues to blame the media and calls them names, he has yet to credit, with the same vigor, those doing good work. Trump says he wants to up employment -- for all kinds of businesses. Maybe he should focus on that.

Now let’s go deeper. Beyond 140-character missives, it would be good to review those new media organization’s stories and “facts.” If all is confirmed, then all should be the basis for new business.  

Wouldn’t advertisers want that?