?Ask tough questions, don't dumb down news?, he tells journos
WASHINGTON, Mar 29 : President Barack Obama today expressed his dismay on developments in the US presidential election campaign in particular the "divisive and often vulgar rhetoric" coming from some of the candidates who are aspiring to replace him in the White House next year.
"As I've said in recent weeks, I know I'm not the only one who may be more than a little dismayed about what's happening on the campaign trail right now. The divisive and often vulgar rhetoric that's aimed at everybody, but often is focused on the vulnerable or women or minorities," Obama said in his remarks at the 2016 Toner Prize ceremony.
"The sometimes well-intentioned but I think misguided attempts to shut down that speech. The violent reaction that we see, as well as the deafening silence from too many of our leaders in the coarsening of the debate," he said expressing his dismay at the developments on the campaign trail.
"The sense that facts don't matter, that they're not relevant. That what matters is how much attention you can generate. A sense that this is a game as opposed to the most precious gift our founders gave us - this collective enterprise of self-government," Obama rued.
Meanwhile, journalists should ask tough questions to bring out the truth and not be guided by short-term results, US President Barack Obama has said as he sought accountability from media.
Speaking at a journalism awards event yesterday, Obama said media houses have an obligation to maintain certain standards and should refrain from dumbing down the
news.     ?PTI