Former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey has become embroiled in a discussion about media representation. 

It all started when Brian Stelter, CNN’s chief media correspondent, took to Twitter to share a Washington Post article about Tucker Carlson. “Tucker Carlson is always selling the same thing, @pbump says: “He’s selling doubt…” he wrote in the post’s caption.

That prompted a response from Dorsey. “And you all are selling hope?” he questioned. A considered discussion then took place in the comments section.

“They’re selling truth, which is hope-agnostic,” insisted Elizabeth Spiers, a political commentator at MSNBC. “It’s supposed to inform you, not make you feel some kind of way.” “Hope isn’t a journalist’s job. Truth is. Facts are,” wrote someone else.

CNN both came in for criticism and approval. “Whatever CNN is selling, I’ll say it’s more truthful albeit hyperbolic,” wrote one Twitter user. “Fox has been on a different planet for at least 6 years.”

“Even @CNN sometimes sell false news,” insisted someone else conversely. “I know this from covering Iraq events in 2019. People need to understand every media is prone to either mistakes or deliberate corruption. Do your own investigation before believing what they’re selling you.”

This comment was something Dorsey readily agreed with, writing, “I know this from being on the streets of Ferguson during the protests and watching them try to create conflict and film it causing the protestors to chant “fuck CNN”.”

Alex Salvi, a foreign correspondent for Newsmax, even accused Dorsey of defending Carlson, posting a screenshot of Dorsey’s previous exchange with Stelter. “Not defending a thing,” Dorsey retorted. “Holding up a mirror.”

When someone else wrote, “I thought his point was that the press does the same thing, sowing doubt to promote white supremacy and get engagement, often amplifying bad takes, but now I’m not sure anymore,” Dorsey simply replied “yes.”

For his part, Stelter replied to Dorsey by posting a picture of the pair previously in conversation: “I enjoyed our CNN interview and would love to again – this topic deserves long form,” he wrote.

Others were simply pleased to see Dorsey being so public with his thoughts. “Jack is finally unchained… This is the @jack we’ve all been waiting for,” one fan wrote.

“I see Elon has inspired you to stop giving a fu*k and to more boldly stand up for what’s right. We need you billionaires to start acting like you have moral authority. Keep it up,” agreed someone else.

The Twitter exchange continues Dorsey’s recent public candidness. Just this weekend, he called out the Twitter board, insisting the board has “consistently been the dysfunction of the company.”

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