Objectivity

• Journalistic objectivity has two components.

– The first is 'depersonalisation' which means that
journalists should not overtly express their own
views, evaluations, or beliefs.
– The second is 'balance' which involves presenting
the views of representatives of both sides of a
controversy without favouring one side
• Objectivity implies a standard. But if a
standard exists, then why don’t two
newspapers ever have the same angle on a
breaking story? If they’re all writing objective
stories, how can they all present the same
story differently?
 THE ‘OBJECTIVE’ MEDIA
• In practice, mainstream media suffers from
economic, political and industry pressures
that often prevent it from performing its ideal
role of providing a wide variety of views.
• Media often allow current repressive forces to
maintain and increase their influence
 Independence
• Gather and report news without fear or favor, and
vigorously resist undue influence from any outside
forces, including advertisers, sources, story subjects,
powerful individuals, and special interest groups.
• Resist those who would seek to buy or politically
influence news content or who would seek to
intimidate those who gather and disseminate the
news.
• Use editorial judgment
• Resist any self-interest or peer pressure that might
erode journalistic duty and service to the public.
• Recognize that sponsorship of the news will not
be used in any way to determine, restrict, or
manipulate content.
• Refuse to allow the interests of ownership or
management to influence news judgment and
content inappropriately.
• Defend the rights of the free press for all
journalists, recognizing that any professional or
government licensing of journalists is a violation
of that freedom.
 Fairness and Impartiality
• Most stories have at least two sides. While
there is no obligation to present every side in
every piece, stories should be balanced and
add context. Objectivity is not always possible,
and may not always be desirable (in the face
for example of brutality or inhumanity), but
impartial reporting builds trust and
confidence.
 Fairness and Impartiality
• The media house must retain its impartiality in
functioning as media house and reporting
cannot be permitted to become subservient
to other business interests which the owner of
the media house may have when such private
interest conflict with public duty of such vast
magnitude segregation of the two is not only
justified but essential.