How Crucial Is Objectivity in Professional Journalism - Essay Example

HOW CRUCIAL IS OBJECTIVITY IN PROFFESIONAL JOURNALISM? By Location Introduction Since the inception of journalism, the profession has regularly emerged alongside the concept of objectivity. Ideally, the prevailing standard of mainstream journalism in the print and broadcast industry is the notion of objectivity. But, the term has often been dismissed as an undesired norm and an unattainable standard (Maras, 2013, p. 8). Most scholars fail to define objective journalism, even though it is an evolving notion rather than a synonym for detachment or neutrality (Mark, 2005, p. 444). Objectivity can be used as a standard to promote truth and is considered a correspondence that is grounded in correctness between reality and thought. Unlike other standards of journalism that centre on moral values, objectivity considers journalism as a performance of interrelated dimensions (Mindich, 2004, p. 6). Such dimensions include a notion of practice, a universal evaluation criteria and openness to criticisms. The essay outlines how objectivity is crucial to professional journalism in print news reporting. Objectivity has persisted as a yardstick for measuring standards of journalism in the print industry for roughly a century now (Mellor, 2007, p. 71). Before that, most journalists have been recorded to have been frequently active partisans of their media houses. Thus, it is fair to conclude that objective journalism was adopted as a reliable confluence of technological, economic, and political forces that pushed journalism in the direction of reaching the broadest possible audience (Sandrine, 2011, p. 385). Ideally, the partisan printing press only reached the readers who shared the same ideologies with the editors of the newspaper (Pasley, 2004, p. 37). It was thought that objective journalism would force the owners of a media house to reason and gain a larger audience that would in turn attract more advertising opportunities. At the heart of objectivity were independence, openness, and factual evidence on issues published. Those issues remain to the basis of journalistic practice though most scholars and practitioners argue about the desirability and attainability of true standards of objectivity in an enterprise that is intense. Other critics worry that more superficial standards such as balance have replaced the initial goal of objectivity (Friend & Singer, 2007, p. 21). Also, most journalists are not usually transparent on the methods used to derive news items as scientists are (Bauer & Bucchi, 2008, p. 275). One likely source of subjective journalism would be the journalists themselves. Most journalists place more emphasis on the watchdog role of the media and the growing concerns of controversial practices such as invading privacy and deception rather than being objective (Mark, 2005, p. 443). A reasonable generalization could be that most journalists are middle-class and closing in on middle age. The case for objectivity is weak when a vast majority of the mainstream print journalists work for renowned and publicly owned corporations that are often bound by legislation. Objectivity can be visualized as a dominant ideology that formed part of a strategic ritual to legitimize the activities of the mainstream print media (Churcher, 2008, p. 299). In reality and beyond the rhetoric of democracy, public interest and press freedom, the objectivity myth in print media is thought to be a puppet that promotes the political and economic interests of the elites (Sandrine, 2011, p. 444). As a result, most partisan and alternative journalists in leading print media organizations significantly reject the notions of balanced reporting and objectivity in the presentation of news to the public. Some mainstream print journalists advance the real values of subjectivity in response to advocates of objectivity. A stress of subjective journalism automatically circumvents the possibility of rational discussions and dialogue on public issues raised. If the truth claims outlined by journalists are seen as communicatively held within the framework of inter-subjective values, there will be more room for open discussions on the issues that matter most to the readers. To a great extent, the problem of subjective journalism is peculiar due to the government legislation. In the world over, journalism – especially print journalism – is controlled either directly or indirectly by the government (Mark, 2005, p. 446). Such governing bodies prefer biased reporting of issues of public importance and assume the objective duty journalists have to their audience. But, in some regions such as Europe, print journalism is completely free from government control, and the usual pattern is for media houses be openly ideological and partisan on how they report their new stories. In Great Britain, major newspapers are identified to report either leaning left of right (McGrail, 2008, p. 32), while other publicly owned platforms such as the BBC are generally seen not to take any sides regardless of how critical the issue at hand may be. The source of subjective journalism is often overlooked by most media organizations. Its pervasiveness explains the widespread perception of liberal objective journalism. Its nature can also explain partly why most journalists are more resistant to such accusations. The built-in subjectivity lies in every job description related to journalism as outlined. In most cases, most print media organizations expect journalists to remain a part of the strong power structure, question and challenge the authority when necessary, expose wrongdoing and injustice, and protect the powerless citizens from the elite class (Schudson, 1989, p. 277). But, most of these roles are considered to be more liberal rather than conservative. A small percentage of the honours in journalism go to work with the ability to challenge or question the status quo. For instance, the folk heroes of the journalism generation include two young reporters of the Washington Post who had the ability to question the authority persistently in the early 1970s, during the early 1970s to help bring down a president. The societal role of print journalism should be critiquing rather than playing the cheerleader (Lynch, et al., 2011, p. 170). A print journalist should also be the questioner instead of the accepted of authority and the watchdog instead of the lapdog (Schudson, 1989, p. 264). Unfortunately, the products of the journalistic role, as outlined in the job description of most media organizations is what society requires and criticizes. Most journalists often welcome such roles, but then resent the criticism that comes along. There is a counter current capable of producing mainstream journalism in an even more fundamental conservatism. The deeper current is stimulated by much tradition and economics. The expected results are that the questioning, challenging and reforming roles played by journalists be relatively narrow and within a respectable ideological spectrum. In a similar manner to the existing political stand, mainstream print journalism has little or completely no questioning to market capitalism or rather the existing market forces (Petit & Foundation, 2011, p. 11). Also, there is little questioning of the prevailing myths in society pertaining to social mobility and equality of opportunity for other similar issues of concern. Even in countries with the oldest democracy in the world, print journalists take some limits and structures for granted in the same way society does. In societies that are not completely free, providing the opportunity for the operation of a free and objective press is an agent of revolution. But, in a society with rights and freedoms established well in this century, freedom of the press should form part of the status quo rather than a tool for manipulation by political bigwigs and owners of the publication. Critics of subjective behaviour in print journalism see the everyday products and consider them to be liberal. But, they seldom consider recognizing the essential conservatism portrayed by the status quo to which both the critics and the print journalists belong (Lee, et al., 2012, p. 187). Journalists are often guilty of the same myopia and since they understand the benefit of being objective and reporting faultlessly rather than being subjective to a top supreme power. Thus, the definition of journalism often puts into account a large part of the negativity to which a majority of the respondents object. News is considered to be new developments or rather the recent happenings in society (Schudson, 1989, p. 263). But, even in a society with twenty-four-hour coverage and the infinite power of the Internet, it is not possible to report every recent happening or new developments in print media. As a result, journalists give new meaning to what is termed as newsworthy. According to them, news refers to all those recent happenings that are likely to touch on the lives of their audience. Also, news could be any recent happenings likely to capture the interest of the audience that is bombarded with much information and harassed by the demands of time and attention. The most relevant elements in every news item, as expected from print journalists, include novelty, relevance, and conflict. Journalists focus much of their efforts and the attention of the public on the normalcy of the everyday disruption. If it is corruption, crime, disaster or war, then it is news regardless of the angle taken by the journalist in reporting. Recent happenings such as a smoothly functioning government, business people obeying the law, calm seas and sunny days, as well as airplanes that arrive on time never see their way to any page of a newspaper. They are considered to be natural occurrences that do not impress the public and do not have much appeal to attracting the readership and more advertisers. One example that outlines how crucial objectivity is in news reporting involves a disagreement between the Reuters and the Canadian news chain, CanWest (Reporting, 2015). CanWet, dissatisfied with the Reuter’s policy to avoid using the word “terror” in its news reports, started inserting this word into its wire copy. The Reuters executives objected to this move claiming how the word terror would endager the reporters and confuse the readers. One of the editors at CanWest responded to Reuter’s point of view by questioning whether couching the use of language in reporting would account for objective reporting. The structural explanation accounts for a greater percentage of the negative tone used on the nightly news and the morning front pages of most newspapers. Journalists play a critical in such occurrences and can be faulted for the widespread failure to pay much attention to what is termed as the journalism of hope. Instead of propagating the negative tone in reporting, journalists are expected to report problems accompanied by their possible solutions to prevent future incidences (Mark, 2005, p. 446). They should also keep account of the disasters affecting their nations and focus more on recovery efforts that will mitigate recurrent issues. Political reporting should emphasize on what the candidates want to achieve, but also cover their shortcomings to provide a balanced personality to the public. Such content can relieve the gloom seen by most respondents. Print journalists are too guilty of their professional misfortunes that cannot be explained by their training or societal role. One such misfortune is an invasion of privacy. During interviews with affected citizens, journalistic intrusion into the moments of grief or rather the turning point of the life of a private citizen brings anger to the voice of the people. Thus, journalists should learn how to back off from some people and provide room for some privacy. Journalists cover court cases excessively and invade the privacy of the people at certain times when they are not expected to be around. Most people found in such occasions object to this behaviour and consider it an unnecessary intrusion into one’s personal life. Even though prevalent, most journalists do recognize the problem, but do not figure out clearly how to show compassion for those adversely affected by news coverage on their personal life. It is obvious then that journalists should understand the necessity of private people to control private information than public officials can do. Journalist should focus more energy on covering public officials who seek power, attention, and influence instead of concentrating on private citizens. Only an overriding public need can justify the intrusion into one’s private life. If journalists handled their roles better by sticking to their principles and explaining these principles to their audience, both the public and the press would be served better. What makes this possible is the reality that free people and free journalism are dependent mutually. Neither of the two can exist for a long time without the other. In fact, journalists have made this argument for several generations. But, the most important thing is that the public can see the relationship too. It turns out that the consumers of journalism have a more balanced and sophisticated understanding than the practitioners and the professional critics. There are various outrageous issues that affect the society, and it is not possible to curb them without understanding the things one needs to know. It is good for the public to know what is going on and strategize on how to adjust their lives depending on the objectivity of the information. In most systems of government, information provided by print journalists is crucial in enlightening the political decisions of the citizens. A popular government without a reliable source of information is only comparable to a prolog of a farce, tragedy, or both (Sandrine, 2011, p. 387). Journalism provides the public with information that is critical in a democratic society to thrive. Objective journalism is an important conduit for what is happening in society and also what citizens think about what is happening. Since journalism is an essential aspect in a democratic world, it is necessary to provide citizens with freedoms and rights. Citizens have a right to know, see, hear and read the information as well as express their true point of view. It is even thought that the world will never be remembered for the complex technological inventions it has to offer. Instead, it will be remembered for its provision of objective journalism and its experiment with free expression. In the embryonic era, published viewpoints promoted political discussions and encouraged involvement in the political process. For instance, the Americans had access to a multitude of ideas through the press that presented various political factions and led to serious debates. The press did not have the opportunity to make claims of objectivity and fairness and openly supported the Federalist or the Republicans. At the time in history, there were no journalistic standards for balance in the partisan newspapers that existed. Thus, political information not only expressed what happened, but also recounted what the writers thought about whatever was happening. At the same time, earlier political leaders attempted to manage the flow of public information through various forms of economic support targeted at favoured printers. Most political leaders had their essays written under certain pseudonyms using exclusive and leaked information. At times personal and vicious attacks occurred but political newspapers aided debates among the citizens and encouraged their involvement in building the nation. Opinions, even those expressing hated disclosures on societal injustices are also a part of objective journalism (Mark, 2005, p. 460). Viewpoints expressed publicly can often reach a climax of controversy in times of great stress. For instance, in the mid-nineteenth century, there was much stress when a debate over slavery grew more hatred throughout America. Such widening disagreements were a catalyst that culminated in civil war. The abolition press had many people writing and speaking about the contentious issues touching on slavery at the expense of their safety. Journalists were also tasked with the duty to investigate, create social change and expose the wrongs in society. Objective journalism is part of the reform movement targeted at creating change in society. Major issues in society such as a large immigrant population, the industrial revolution, and corporate business, all affect the well-being of objective journalism practice. Another example of objectivity in journalism involves a Time magazine cover story in September 2020 that was titled “Why Israel Isn’t Interested in Peace”. This headline spun Israelis as detached from the Mideast conflict and disinterested in peace. The article was based on the views of a few Russian-born salesmen rather than seeking the opinion of a representative group of Israeli views. Thus, the article was a dishonest overview of Israeli’s stand on peace deal and constituted to subjective rather than objective reporting. Journalism, being part of the national progressive movement for social, economic, and political reform should address issues touching on immigration, urban issues, and problems related to industrialization. Investigative journalists should also seek to expose any misconduct, corruption, and vice publicly. More importantly, information gatekeepers should play their role effectively by selecting the right information to be let through to the mainstream media. In selecting stories that ought to be published for public consumption, gatekeepers should consider three perspectives. The perspectives include the political economy, mainstream sociology, and the anthropological approach (Schudson, 1989, p. 266). The outcome of the news process should be examined against the economic structure of the organization. In journalism, overlapping the important considerations of transparency, honesty, and trust relates perfectly well to being accountable in an interactive environment. It works well when print journalists are honest and objective about the issues they present to their audience as news. What makes people cross with journalists is when they think that they are trying to be dishonest, unfair and disingenuous in their coverage of critical societal issues. The audience now expects print journalists to step out of the normalcy behind the articles they write and take up the responsibility to defend and discuss them for the benefit of the public. Accountability and objectivity can also be highlighted through the desire for journalists to own up the responsibility whenever something goes wrong for a new story they covered. One simple aspect that journalists should consider while being accountable is the necessity to have a byline. Writers working behind a shroud of anonymity do not have much responsibility in being accountable for the outcome of their news stories. Conclusion Objectivity is crucial in reporting news stories in print journalism. But, it is only by taking time to rethink and reinvigorate journalism will it be conceivable to institutionalize journalism practice as a profession that is capable of fulfilling its societal tasks. Apart from educational institutions, journalism schools are thought to be trade schools rather than being modern professional schools. The importance and challenges of journalism keep growing, and the occupational task of explaining critical issues to the public becomes more demanding and complex. Such changes need a response to journalism education and more input from the professional community. A redefinition of journalism would create a new role in the knowledge profession of journalism and make it distinct again from the other forms of communication. Bibliography Bauer, M. W. & Bucchi, M., 2008. Journalism, Science and Society: Science Communication Between News and Public Relations. 1st ed. New York: Routledge. Churcher, K. M. A., 2008. Self-governance, Normalcy and Control: Inmate-produced Media at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. 1st ed. Michigan: ProQuest. Friend, C. & Singer, J. B., 2007. Online Journalism Ethics. 1st ed. New York: M.E. Sharp. Lee, C.-C.et al., 2012. Global Media Spectacle: News War over Hong Kong. 2nd ed. New Jersey: SUNY Press. Lynch, J., Shaw, I. S. & Hackett, R. A., 2011. 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