JAmessenger_ilovejesus: THE MEDIA AND OBJECTIVITY

THE MEDIA AND OBJECTIVITY

Can journalists achieve objectivity?

Objectivity is looking at everything from all perspectives, enabling us to have a non-biased view of any situation, place or person. “The ability to make decisions based on facts rather than on your own personal feelings or beliefs.” (The Macmillan dictionary) “Although within the professional modern practice of journalism it is widely accepted that objectivity is an ideal that cannot be reached…” (Blaagaard, 2013, 1079) Objectivity is an ideal that is not tangible, you can try to attain it or strive to come close to objectivity but never truly achieve it. Blagaard states that in order for journalists to be objective or to come as close as possible, they must follow the ethical and professional principles such as “…factuality, fairness, non-bias, independence, non-interpretation, and neutrality and detachment (Ward, 2008:19).” (Blaagaard, 2013, 1079) These guiding professional and ethical principles help journalists to try to be objective in the way they produce their written or broad cast stories. The professional and ethical principles Blaagaard outlined are similar to the media and journalistic organizations examples in this paper. The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) has four important core principles that they believe help to foster ethical journalism. These are: To seek the truth and report it- to be honest, to seek different perspectives of a story, give accurate information, do in-depth research and do not plagiarize.

To minimize harm- asking journalists to have a conscience when dealing with sensitive stories of murder, sexual assault especially of minors, to differentiate between what is legal and what is ethical. To act independently- meaning journalists should resist bribes; also resist aligning themselves to biased organizations on the business side of journalism. To be accountable and transparent-journalists should be willing to be held accountable for the work they publish to the public. (Society of Professional Journalists, 2014) The SPJ core principles for journalists to attain objectivity are similar to those of Tony Rogers Journalism Expert, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Wesley Gibbings President of the Association of Caribbean Media Workers and Pew Research Journalism Project. There is hope for journalists who want to be and be seen as professionals if they follow similar ethical principles such as these that guide them on how to be professional and bring them closer to the ideal of objectivity.

Journalism expert, Tony Rogers advises journalists not to use adjectives as they convey feelings. He encourages them to use fairness, to give both perspectives on an issue and equal attention to both sides of whatever story they tell. Rogers also advises journalists to behave accordingly “A reporter’s Conduct- …must not only be objective and fair but also convey an image of being objective and fair.” (Rogers, 2014) A reporter’s professionalism is tied to how objective their image appears to be and their journalistic work that they produce. Professionalism and objectivity converge, and have the same meaning in the profession of journalism. I appreciate this point of view of Rogers’ that the journalists should place the power in the hands of the public, let the public decide if their content is reliable. He advises journalists to state their honest political, cultural or religious affiliations, which their perspectives are based on in their written or broadcasted stories to the public.

If this is done then the public is aware and has the power to make an informed decision whether to trust this journalistic work or not. Journalists would have greater social responsibility and be held accountable for their work. This will help bring journalists a step closer to the ideal of objectivity. UNESCO is a specialized intellectual agency of the United Nations created in 1945. This organization’s aim is to contribute to lasting peace and to accomplish this through fostering human moral and intellectual unity. (UNESCO, current) UNESCO created ten ethical and professional principles to guide journalists as they saw a growth in social responsibility being placed on journalists. Number 3 of these principles the journalists’ social responsibility is a very good ethical guide that allows for the accountability of journalists to the public and also to the media houses they represent. It encourages journalists to be responsible for the work they produce and that their work is not just a commodity but a “social good”. (UNESCO and the International Organizations of Journalists, et.al, 1983)

Wesley Gibbings a Trinidadian Journalist and the President of the Association of Caribbean Media Workers and Deputy Convener of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange. In an interview in The Sunday Guardian Trinidad and Tobago conducted by Shereen Ali, Gibbings was asked his view about objectivity in the media. The question was if the media had any hope of ever being objective. He stated that objectivity has been debated for years and he also believes objectivity is an issue in other professions. Gibbings believes that journalists must have freedom of expression in order to be responsible, professional and to be able to try to be as objective as they can. If the journalist has no freedom of speech the story will be non-objective. (The Sunday Guardian Trinidad and Tobago, 2014) This is true, if a journalist is restricted from freedom of speech by the government or laws the story will be biased, only showing one perspective and only beneficial to the restricting authority.

Pew Research Journalism Project Group researches the changes in media, and media in general and publishes the results of their research to the public. The group states objectively on their website that, “Pew research does not take positions on any issue it covers or on policy debates”. (Pew Research Journalism Project) They outline 9 guiding ethical principles for journalists to follow to become professional. What makes Pew’s guiding principles stand out is that they conducted research over 3 years that included gaining the perspectives of journalists and other persons. The fact that journalists contributed to these core principles gives them credibility and shows that some journalists are trying to be as objective as they can in their journalistic work, and not all hope is lost. Tony Rogers stated that it is disrespectful to imply that the profession of journalism needs to be dismissed or is totally corrupted with bias, because of an ideal or concept of objectivity. Journalists do not have all the answers to moral questions for example, abortion. It is also disrespectful to journalists, who follow the ethical and professional codes and guidelines of the profession. (Rogers, 2014) Other professions require the need for objectivity to be seen as professional for example a judge, yet they are not viewed in the same way as a journalist.

“True objectivity is impossible, since, all humans, reporters included, have their own set of biases, [prejudices], and preconceptions.” (Rogers, 2014) All these guiding principles provide hope for the journalist who wants to be and be seen as professional. A journalist that tries to be as objective as they realistically can be, and adhere to the ethical and professional codes of the profession are a professional journalist. Professionalism and objectivity converge in the profession of journalism.

WRITTEN BY TONI-ANN D. STEWART

Posted online on January 30, 2016.

References

Blaagaard, B. (2013). Shifting boundaries: Objectivity, citizen journalism and tomorrow’s journalists. Journalism, 14, 1077-1090. doi:10.117/1464884912469081

Macmillan Dictionary Online

Retrieved from http://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/objectivity

Pew Research Journalism Project. Principles of Journalism.

Retrieved from http://www.journalism.org/resources/principles-of-journalism/

Rogers, T. (2014). Objectivity and Fairness.

Retrieved from http://journalism.about.com/od/ethicsprofessionalism/a/objectivity.htm

Rogers, T. (2014). Why the ‘Objectivity is Outdated’ Argument Falls Apart.

Retrieved from http://journalism.about.com/od/ethicsprofessionalism/a/Why-The-Objectivity-Is-Outdated-Argument-Falls-Flat.htm

Society of Professional Journalists. 2014. SPJ Code of Ethics.

Retrieved from http://www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp

The Sunday Guardian Trinidad and Tobago. (2014). Wesley Gibbings: Journalists not obliged to disclose their politics.

Retrieved from http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2014-03-23/wesley-gibbings-journalists-not-obliged-disclose-their-politics