When five journalists were shot dead in their own newsroom, we thought the rhetoric would change. It was June 2018, and the Capital Gazette was added to the long list of workplaces marred by gun violence in the United States.

President Trump said the shooting “shocked the conscience of our nation.” But it wasn't shocking. The leader of the United States habitually demonises the media, referring to us as the “enemy of the people.” Even after the shooting, he hasn't stopped belittling the work of journalists — that which is essential to democracy.

It’s no secret that President Trump’s coining of the term “fake news” created a war on honest reporting, allowing him to challenge any assertion or indeed statistic that he doesn't like. And frankly, journalists are sick of it. Evidently, Jim Acosta is sick of it.

In an acrimonious exchange yesterday at the President’s post-midterms press conference, the tension between Acosta and Trump was tangible. Acosta asked the president about his demonising of immigrants by referring to the caravan of migrants as “an invasion”.

“They’re hundreds of miles away,” insisted Acosta.

Trump fired back with, “I think you should let me run the country; you run CNN. And if you did it well, your ratings would be much better.” Ding — that was round one. It escalated from there.

It's significant that Trump moved beyond a personal insult to attacking the whole of CNN, a newsroom still reeling from a pipe bomb sent to its New York office last week. “CNN should be ashamed of itself, having you working for them,” Trump continued.

Trump then closes with his signature point: “When you report fake news, which CNN does a lot, you are the enemy of the people.” It’s here that the President continues to widen the chasm he's worked hard to create between the media and its consumers. By refusing to engage in civil discourse with Acosta — and journalists as whole, really — Trump is engaging in a dangerous game. We’re far beyond him planting the seed of distrust in the media. The notion has grown roots.

In this context, what was most shocking about the midterms press conference was Acosta’s refusal to back down. Journalists have, after all, been bombarded with attacks for almost the entirety of Trump’s political career. Attacks about their disabilities. Attacks about their nationalities. Attacks about their gender. And truly, there haven’t been any reporters who publicly refused to put up with the rhetoric Trump spews daily. That all changed yesterday.

Trump’s framing of Jim Acosta as devoid of all moral character and journalistic integrity is frightening on a number of levels. What’s worse is that Acosta is now having his press pass to the White House revoked. As far as I'm concerned, that's a direct threat to all of our democratic rights.

Trump attacks CNN's Jim Acosta in angry White House press conference Show all 10 1 /10 Trump attacks CNN's Jim Acosta in angry White House press conference Trump attacks CNN's Jim Acosta in angry White House press conference Donald Trump launched an extraordinary tirade against CNN reporter Jim Acosta during a press conference following the midterm elections Reuters Trump attacks CNN's Jim Acosta in angry White House press conference The US president ordered the journalist to put down his microphone and “just sit down” AFP Trump attacks CNN's Jim Acosta in angry White House press conference The row began following a question about the migrant caravan approaching the US, when Mr Trump was asked by CNN’s Jim Acosta if he thought he had “demonised” migrants by calling the group an “invasion” EPA Trump attacks CNN's Jim Acosta in angry White House press conference “I think you should let me run the country, you run CNN, and if you did it well, your ratings would be much better,” said the President AFP/Getty Trump attacks CNN's Jim Acosta in angry White House press conference After Mr Acosta attempted to follow up his question with a second on Robert Mueller’s Russia probe, Mr Trump added, pointing angrily: “That’s enough. That’s enough. That’s enough. Excuse me, that’s enough.” Mr Trump said he was “not concerned about anything” because the investigation was “a hoax”. Continuing to berate Mr Acosta, he added: “That’s enough. Put down the mic.” As the reporter continued to quiz him, Mr Trump became more agitated and stepped away from the podium. EPA Trump attacks CNN's Jim Acosta in angry White House press conference Returning to the podium, Mr Trump said: “I’ll tell you what, CNN should be ashamed of itself having you working for them. You are a rude, terrible person. You shouldn’t be working for CNN REUTERS Trump attacks CNN's Jim Acosta in angry White House press conference Trump continued: 'The way you treat Sarah Huckabee is horrible and the way you treat other people are horrible. You shouldn’t treat people that way.” She was sitting in the room listening on REUTERS Trump attacks CNN's Jim Acosta in angry White House press conference A second reporter, Peter Alexander, was called on by the president and said: “In Jim’s defence I’ve travelled with him a lot, he’s a diligent reporter.” EPA Trump attacks CNN's Jim Acosta in angry White House press conference Mr Trump cut him off, telling the NBC News journalist that “I’m not a big fan of yours either”, prompting laughter in the room AP Trump attacks CNN's Jim Acosta in angry White House press conference Mr Acosta continued to try to ask questions without his microphone, causing Mr Trump to tell him: “Just sit down, please. When you report fake news – no – when you report fake news, which CNN does, a lot, you are the enemy of the people.” REUTERS

Let me be frank: I study and report journalism all day, every day. I believe Acosta’s interaction with the President was absolutely necessary. It may not have been the most respectful. It was awkward and hard to watch. But it was also a power move. Acosta was doing his job.

From the first day we step into a journalism class, we are told, “You are the watchdog for the people.” We are told incessantly that our responsibility is to the people and to disseminate the truth because that’s what journalists do. Acosta was being America’s watchdog.

Above all, to be lectured on morality by a man who’s spent the last three years fighting off allegations of sexual misconduct, blatantly expressing xenophobic remarks, defending neo-Nazis and destroying confidence in the entire US media would be laughable if it weren't so infuriating. And I know journalists are supposed to be unbiased. Those are just facts — and not the alternative kind.