It is time for the mainstream media to wake up and smell the coffee. For several decades prior to the election of Donald Trump public confidence in America’s Fourth Estate gradually evaporated. To be sure, journalists in America steadily frittered away public trust long before Mr. Trump entered politics.

However, the widespread skepticism toward the media prior to Mr. Trump’s inauguration quickly transformed into rampant distrust. Not paying attention to what was happening in mainstream America, the media doubled down. Their baseless assaults on Mr. Trump have been relentless. The rampant distrust has now turned into passionate contempt.

Dick Lyles

Unfortunately for the media elites, they breathlessly predicted that the Stormy Daniels incident would “bring down Trump.” Her attorney spent more time on the cable news networks than any comparable personality in history. CNN even touted him as a “potential presidential candidate.” The entire issue turned out be one giant “nothing burger.” Her corrupt attorney is now in jail. He will probably spend the rest of his life behind bars for other misdeeds.

For years the liberal media claimed the Mueller investigation would produce “irrefutable evidence of Russian collaboration.” In the end there was none.

That was followed by the impeachment hoax. Once again, no evidence found.

Until Mr. Trump, no one challenged the media. The adage among politicians was “never get into an argument with anyone who buys ink by the barrel.” Journalists could say or do almost anything.

Because of the evolution of social media, it no longer matters who buys the most ink. Mr. Trump understands that. The mainstream media does not.

Since his impeachment exoneration and the commencement of his near-daily pandemic task force news briefings, Mr. Trump’s approval ratings have climbed considerably.

Also, during this most newsworthy quarter in a decade, Fox News viewership increased 38 percent while MSNBC stayed flat. Among the key demographic of 25- to 54-year-olds Fox grew 42 percent while MSNBC dropped 1 percent.

The liberal media reaction to these results has been for several networks to stop airing the news conferences, despite the high ratings they earn. Never before have the media lobbied for less rather than more transparency. If Mr. Trump is lying during the news conferences as they claim, then why not let everyone see for themselves? The truth is that the news conferences clearly show they are the liars, not Mr. Trump.

Rather than provide the fact-based and objective news coverage most people want, the media elites think it is their job to tell everyone what to think. That is why they are panic-stricken. When people get the information directly, the media can’t as easily manipulate perceptions. Although good news for America, this is bad news for media elites.

Never in history has it been more important for journalists to reflect on their role in society. Some will do so and conclude that their primary responsibility is to drive ratings and readership, truth be damned. They will attract subsets of the population who seek biased reporting by reporters whose values align with their own.

However, we should hope — perhaps even demand — that some will once again embrace the role an objective and unbiased Fourth Estate can play in a thriving Democracy. America and the world needs at least one group of journalists who can report balls and strikes without trying to change the parameters of the strike zone with every pitch.

Members of the mainstream media should be reminded that although you’re entitled to your own opinion, you’re not entitled to your own facts. Don’t complain that Mr. Trump calls you fake-news-generating liars. Simply stop generating fake news and stop lying.

Lyles, a Poway resident, is a management consultant and best-selling author.