Charles Coleman

This administration understands the value of independent media and citizen journalism and people who don't necessarily have direct bosses and can't be told what they can and cannot say or what the slant is or is not.

And so when you have that level of independence and you have even a modicum of resources, it represents a different type of danger coming out

of the fourth branch of government.

It represents a different type of exposure with respect to being able to truth tell and story tell that is not so easily controlled, particularly in this environment around where media continues to move and where it continues to shift.

And so for people who don't really understand, there is a reason why you, why Joy, why independent journalism right now is so incredibly important in the media landscape.

And this administration understands that.

And it's also very characteristic of how we have seen the executive branch continue to try and weaken every other aspect of government.

And I referred to media as in the press as the fourth branch, because that's essentially how they function.

But for people who do not realize in this moment, you can look in recent history.

You talked about it in your lead in Don about government.

Think about Ferguson and how important citizen journalism and independent journalists were to telling stories before they broke nationally.

Think about Trayvon Martin and Sanford, Florida.

Before those things had broken nationally, there were journalists who were on the ground who weren't necessarily affiliated with legacy or corporate media in the ways that you would expect, who were breaking that story saying this is going to be big before it became a national story.

This is how movement has always functioned, particularly with the advancement of technology.

And this administration understands that.

So for your audience, I just want to underscore how critically important independent journalists like yourself are, like Joy are, because of the fact that

There's not a need for validation from some of these other platforms.

I mean, that you have them is great, but it's not necessary.

And this administration is very, very, very understanding of that.

So when your audience is thinking about where they get their news, how they get their news, understand that they know, this administration knows how critical you all are to that pipeline, which is why you're getting so much of the focus that you are.