Just days ago, Donald Trump went on (yet another) angry Twitter rant accusing CNN of pushing out fake news and stating that CNN International poorly represents our nation to the rest of the world.
@CNNPR quickly snapped back stating that it sticks to reporting nothing but facts and ended its tweet with the slogan – #FactsFirst. The #FactsFirst campaign began in late October when CNN released a short video using the #FactsFirst hashtag. This hashtag has now accumulated a large following on Twitter and has left some room for debate about CNN’s reporting.
At @CNN, we start with the #FactsFirst. pic.twitter.com/x46bUorQOr
— CNN Communications (@CNNPR) October 23, 2017
After yesterdays Twitter attack from Trump, many quickly jumped to CNN’s defense.
Truth is, we’re doing some of our best work these days — from Washington to Mosul, from Moscow to North Korea. Zimbabwe too. The millions of viewers agree. #FactsFirst https://t.co/VbvGbbm6kj
— Marshall Cohen (@Marshall_Cohen) November 26, 2017
To those in positions of power: either you believe and support a press corps free of intimidation or you do not. #FactsFirst 🍎
— Barbara Starr (@barbarastarrcnn) November 26, 2017
People used the #FactsFirst campaign not only to show their support of CNN, but to discredit Trump’s statements about Fox being the best news platform.
FOX NEWS ISNT BROADCAST IN MANY OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD.MOST COUNTRIES WILL NOT ALLOW FOX TO STREAM THEIR BRAND OF MINDLESS PROPAGANDA.THEY HAVE ONLY A LICENSE TO ENTERTAIN IN THIS COUNTRY NOT REPORT THE NEWS. FCC WONT LICENSE FOX 4NEWS SINCE THEY REPORT ONLY LIES.#FactsFirst 🍎
— #TheResistanceNow (@ResistNowvc) November 26, 2017
Those not in favor of CNN used the #FactsFirst hashtag to bash the news source for “one fake story after another” and to show their support of Trump and Fox News.
It is YOUR job to report the news as accurately as possible. It’s just been one fake story after another. For CNN, it’s lies first, with facts only coming when they’re forced to present them. That’s not how journalism works. 😒 #FactsFirst #MAGA https://t.co/yxkzBZlye8
— 😎John🕵🏻♂️Desantis🇺🇸 (@Trumpfan1995) November 26, 2017
Did @CNN just say it’s their job to report news? These are CNN headlines:
Trump takes 2 sips of water during speech.
Trump gets 2 scoops of ice cream.
Trump fed the coy fish the WHOLE BOX!#FactsFirst? You guys ran with the Buzzfeed Trump Dossier which didn’t contain 1 truth. https://t.co/mgETCWsLcz
— Mike (@mike_Zollo) November 26, 2017
Regardless of your take on CNN, the #FactsFirst campaign is one that will be highly debated for a long time and has brought major attention to news reporting and journalism in the United States.