washington president barack obama monday lay blame tone presidential campaign political journalism pinch shrink newsroom budget cheapen focus retweets like social media speech journalism award dinner obama urge journalists ask tough question candidates vie president voice dismay vulgar rhetoric violence rally unrealistic campaign pledge continually grab headline thinly veil reference republican front-runner donald trump number one question get travel around world talk world leaders right happen america politics obama say describe international alarm whether unite state continue function effectively around world people see crazy politics understand america place afford completely crazy politics say elect officials political campaign become entirely untethered reason facts analysis matter true make impossible us make good decisions behalf future generations obama say say media landscape change since first presidential campaign 2008 price say one thing something completely different question current media environment still true still hold say say news organizations responsibility dig deep despite fast pace smartphone age steep financial pressure news business voters would good serve billions dollars free media come serious accountability especially politicians issue unworkable plan make promise keep obama say new york time early month report trump far earn almost 1.9 billion worth media coverage compare 313 million next close republican challenger u.s. senator ted cruz texas 746 million democratic front-runner hillary clinton obama say journalists partly blame tone presidential race