The True Definition of Objectivity

I believe the true definition of objectivity is a method of delivering the news which is clear-eyed, factual, and free of agenda. As we've learned in class, that doesn't necessarily mean ridding ourselves, as journalists, of our individual beliefs and worldviews, but instead it means not letting those aspects of  our lives dictate how we report. I believe that an objective story is one which presents the facts of an event in their entirety, compiled compellingly yet free of manipulation or any attempt to indoctrinate. This doesn't mean that the story can't be reflective of the writer's beliefs. 

As this image suggests, I believe it's necessary for journalists to strike as balanced a tone as possible in their writing, so long as it doesn't dilute the importance or impact of a story. I think this story from the Los Angeles Times is a good example of a balanced, clear-eyed look at an incredibly important ongoing event in our country. The writers take no clear sides, but do well to portray the pressing nature of the story as well as the differing viewpoints of the parties involved. I think objectivity provides a framework for ethical behavior, as it stresses providing the public with factual information which they can then interpret. This, I think, is journalism's most important professional, social, and ethical responsibility.

My Motivations for Journalism

I think the most significant motivation I hold for wanting to be a journalist is the effect I think it can have on society. I've always been deeply interested in politics, and as I have grown older, there are many issues which I have come to be very passionate about. Professional journalism puts the journalist at the head of the public forum, in a position to influence in a way they see to be right. I've always been interested in stories of people who sacrificed material possessions in pursuit of a higher truth, and I think for me journalism has emerged as that pursuit. It isn't the most promising career if one has aspirations of wealth, but it offers a role in society few other professions can.


I hope that one day I can say I made a difference in society, and through the lives and work of famous journalists, I can see that possibility. Walter Cronkite is just one of many journalists who have made incredible societal contributions, although arguably the most well-known. At the end of his career, Cronkite had come to be known as "the most trusted man in America." I think this is indicative of the kind of effect a journalist can have, and the responsibility they hold in the public square. So I think that is the foremost motivation I have for wanting to be a journalist; that one day I might be able to reflect and see my hand in positive change in society.

Journalists Blowing Facts Out of Proportion

I think one of the best examples of a news organization blowing the facts out of proportion happened just in recent months, as the Presidential campaign was still ongoing. While speaking at a campaign event in Roanoake, Virginia, President Obama said the following:

"If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help. There was a great teacher somewhere in your life. Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you've got a business—you didn't build that. Somebody else made that happen."

 

 

 

His remark was intended to highlight how the infrastructure and overall social organization of the United States provides an easier path to individual success. However, Fox News interpreted the quote (which they usually clipped down to the last two sentences) as an assault on success and indicative of socialist ideology, devoting over two hours of coverage to the quote alone.

 

 

If Fox had reported the entire quote, in context, the fallout would have been much different. Their reports outraged conservatives, and eventually determined the theme of the Republican National Convention. This is just another example of the negative effect an increasingly partisan media has on the public's knowledge of the truth.