When the news of Matt Lauer’s dismissal from NBC broke, President Trump used it as an opportunity to attack NBC News and network Chairman Andrew Lack.

He tweeted:

Wow, Matt Lauer was just fired from NBC for “inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace.” But when will the top executives at NBC & Comcast be fired for putting out so much Fake News. Check out Andy Lack’s past! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 29, 2017

This raises many questions, including, is the president investigating news executives and to what end?

Trump went on, naming MSNBC president Phil Griffin and referring to the 2001 death of an intern to then-Congressman Joe Scarborough:

So now that Matt Lauer is gone when will the Fake News practitioners at NBC be terminating the contract of Phil Griffin? And will they terminate low ratings Joe Scarborough based on the “unsolved mystery” that took place in Florida years ago? Investigate! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 29, 2017

NBC has been a trusted source of news since it aired the nation’s first television news broadcast in 1939. The only time I can remember that NBC was accused of putting misinformation on the air was recently when Brian Williams misrepresented his own past. That was dealt with in an appropriate manner and did not affect the actual news he covered.

In my book “Anchoring American,” NBC’s Chet Huntley, in response to the Nixon administration, said:

“Journalists were never intended to be cheerleaders of a society, the conductors of applause, the sycophants. Tragically, that is their role in authoritarian societies, but, not here – not yet. Government, I’ve concluded, is now an insufferable jungle of self-serving bureaucrats.”

What has me concerned is that President Trump appears to want the networks to answer to his standards as opposed to being responsible journalists reporting the news even when its critical of his own words or his administration. That’s their job. This is supposed to be a nation of checks and balances. Without those checks, welcome to 1984.

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For the president to attack Andy Lack by name is way out of line. I have followed Andy’s career from the years as a producer of 60 Minutes through both of his tours as president of NBC News. It was Lack who hired Matt Lauer to host the Today Show in 1997, so it probably was not an easy task to fire him. When the president asks us to investigate Andy’s past what exactly is he referring is he referring to?

Speaking of “pasts” perhaps the president should watch the documentary “Meet the Trumps” on Netflix.

Further disturbing is the fact that Trump is blurring the line between news and commentary. Phil Griffin and Joe Scarborough are commentators. They convey their opinions which, last I checked, is protected by the first amendment.

The irony is that the president is attacking the very people who largely control his legacy. It’s apparent the president does not take criticism very well. There would be far less of it if he would focus his attention on impending legislation (which affects every American), North Korea (that has our country afraid of a nuclear attack) and the business of running this great country. There is no need to attack the media for doing their job unless it’s a smoke screen to keep our attention off the real crises.

The news will go on long after President Trump leaves office and will continue to be the providers of information to the people. The government has no business meddling in the affairs of the news media. Otherwise, we will we have to revert back to the days when town criers needed protection for yelling out the news of the day, hence the saying “don’t shoot the messenger.” If Trump learns that lesson, the whole country will be better off.

Jeff Alan is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and author of two books, “Anchoring America” and “Responsible Journalism.” His career spans more than 40 years and includes work as a television anchor or news director in five metropolitan markets and as a media analyst for NBC and CNN.