Former WABC-TV Anchor Ken Rosato on Media Bias and the Collapse of Trust

A former ABC New York morning anchor explains how opinion overtook reporting and why audiences are turning away.

NEW JERSEY — Veteran broadcast journalist Ken Rosato, a longtime morning anchor in New York City, says mainstream media has drifted away from objective reporting and lost credibility with viewers, contributing to declining ratings and the rise of independent journalism.

Rosato, who spent two decades anchoring ABC’s top rated morning newscast in New York, shared his views during a recent interview with independent journalist Dave Bondy, whom Rosato has mentored since Bondy began his broadcasting career.

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Bondy said Rosato provided career guidance and personal advice early on, helping shape his approach to journalism and decision making in the newsroom.

Rosato said newsrooms increasingly blurred the line between reporting and opinion while presenting coverage as neutral.

Click here to watch Ken Rosato on ONNJ.

“The problem was that mainstream media had a far left slant but pretended it was middle of the road,” Rosato said. “Viewers are smarter than they are given credit for.”

Rosato said he believes many journalists enter newsrooms with activist mindsets and face little resistance when expressing political views internally. He recalled seeing political campaign materials openly displayed in newsrooms and said dissenting viewpoints were often discouraged.

Click here to listen to Ken Rosato on WOR Radio in New York City.

During his tenure, Rosato said he worked to ensure balanced coverage and avoided publicly expressing political opinions. He said that effort led to criticism behind the scenes and limited opportunities, including being passed over for certain political interviews.

Rosato said the shift became especially clear following the 2016 presidential election, when he observed heightened tension and ideological division inside newsrooms. He said journalists who questioned coverage decisions were often viewed with suspicion.

Despite his criticism of legacy media, Rosato said he still values journalism and believes transparency is the key to restoring trust. He now hosts “New Jersey Mornings,” a streaming news and opinion program, and serves as a fill in host on New York talk radio station WOR.

Click here to follow Ken Rosato on X (Twitter).

On his current show, Rosato said he separates straight news reporting from commentary and clearly labels opinion for viewers. He also invites audience participation and encourages disagreement.

“People want the facts first,” he said. “Then they can decide whether they agree with the opinion.”

Rosato pointed to the success of independent journalists and online creators as evidence that audiences are seeking alternatives to traditional outlets. He cited younger reporters who publish investigative work directly to social platforms and attract millions of views without corporate backing.

He said the collapse of the advertising model and the rise of streaming platforms have permanently altered the media landscape.

“News organizations no longer control access to information,” Rosato said. “That power has shifted to the audience.”

Rosato said while independent journalism offers new opportunities, it also comes with risks, including personal safety concerns and increased harassment. Still, he said the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.

“I make less money than I used to,” he said. “But I am happier, freer and more honest with my audience than I have ever been.”

Rosato said he believes the future of journalism depends on clarity, accountability and respect for the audience.

“The public is deciding what survives,” he said. “That is the free market at work.”