Do journalism standards require the

news media to take the brutal beating President Trump has been dishing out to them for over a year?

Trump’s diatribe in Melbourne, Fla., on Saturday established a new record of viciousness and depravity by a public figure against the press. He showed no mercy. As usual, he lied and exaggerated, apparently with impunity. Collective media hand-wringing, while broadcasting his venom, is neither a media defense nor adequate retaliation to such behavior.

Is there a way the press can fight back, for the sake of the public and its own honor, without violating journalistic standards? I believe there is.

An adoring national audience is Trump’s lifeline. Take a sizable chunk of it away and he will merely be a tired, old blowhard, with a limited appeal to those who are attending a live performance.

I’m not suggesting a boycott of his events. The media could do their journalistic duty by providing cameras and reporters for his events. But they could “fight back” by limiting on-air coverage to scanning the crowd to show its size, and a long view of Trump (no sound) addressing it.

Reporters could give a minute or two summary of his repetitious, superfluous remarks, and the station could then return to regular programming.

I’m also not suggesting an organized news media conspira- cy. Each outlet would make its own decisions regarding timing and coverage. Print media would operate in much the same way it does now.

This alone will not restore the dignity of the office of the president of the United States. Unfortunately, that will have to be on hold until a dignified person is elected. Sherman Stock Hales Corners, Wis.