Journalism - why can't it be more objective?

The simple answer is that journalism is in the same test-tube as the rest of the experiment. Emile Zola defined art as a corner of reality viewed through a temperament. That describes journalism pretty well too. After all, when you look at something, you have to look at it from somewhere. There really is no ultimately objective position from which we can view our current planetary reality; and if we’re honest, fences are too thin to sit on. So expecting any entity that is bound by space, time, matter and energy to be objective is a forlorn hope. But not all is lost in this existential subjectivity.

William Cobbett

Thomas Paine

There are things to which journalism can aspire. Good examples of this emerged from late eighteenth century inequity. William Cobbett and Thomas Paine blogged in print about the sins of the system and those who manipulated it. Inspired by their sense of injustice, both pamphleteers lowered the water level on social issues - and suffered the consequences. Cobbett spent time in prison for treasonous libel. Paine’s writing got him expelled from government service, almost executed by the revolting French, and got him prosecuted by HMG for writing the Age of Reason. Blogging is no new phenomenon, nor are the penalties for speaking uncomfortable truth to power. Incidentally, Paine died in the USA and Cobbett wound up with his bones, fully intending to repatriate them.

Eighteenth Century Press

About a century after Cobbett and Paine swung their presses of justice a phenomenon called yellow journalism became apparent. It’s manifestation in the US was largely down to Pulitzer and Hearst. These two late nineteenth century publishers competed for circulation with sensationalist column inches. Whilst these urine tinted dying days of the Victorian era ebbed away, the New York Times was not in good health. Then up pops Adloph Ochs, a newspaper man from way back. He bought his first paper at the age of nineteen with $250 he borrowed from his family. At the age of 38 he borrowed some more money and purchased the New York Times. He set about saving it, and his new motto "all the news that’s fit to print" swept away the stain of yellow and the NYT became arguably the preeminent newspaper of the world. Times square was less than a decade away and Ochs added more banners to his collection whilst observing that 50% of what is spent on advertising is wasted. 

Adolph Ochs

William Randolph Hearst

Joseph Pulitzer

There then followed another century during which journalism dipped in and out of sinfulness. The lurid red tops of the UK rediscovered the selling power of sensation; aliens got involved in agriculture whilst politicians had affairs and large fronted young women provided page three readers with vicarious gratification. This phase didn’t did not pass, but then in the late 1990s, a group of journalists, publishers and media owners in the US formed the Committee for Concerned Journalists. Worried about the state of journalism and its future, their objective was to start a national discussion about its nature and purpose. Founded by Bill Kovach and Ted Rosenstiel, the Committee established conversations and forums to aggregate the thinking of the industry. Their work established consensus on a single purpose for journalism: to enable free citizens to make informed choices. From this admirable and singular purpose there follow some ten simple principles. 

Journalism's first obligation is to the truth. We are constantly discovering that what we thought was the objective truth is, in fact, an oversimplification at best or a misunderstanding at worst. Remember all that stuff about space, time, matter and energy? The first three verses in the first chapter of Genesis go into this in some detail. Science takes us ever closer to the truth without actually touching it - ever. If you are in doubt about any of this then read Douglas Adams, who will deepen that doubt for you. But all that notwithstanding, good journalism ensures people have the most reliable and accurate facts available.

Its first loyalty is to the Citizen. In the soup of vested interests that constitute publishing there has to be an understanding by all that the ultimate allegiance is to the audience. Journalism’s credibility is dependant upon this principle, if it fails then the medium has no value to citizens and therefore to advertising or to its owners.

Its essence is a discipline of verification. There are no standards for this, but journalists with integrity will seek multiple sources; particularly as the stakes increase. Without this verification, journalism becomes no better than advertising, PR and propaganda.

Its practitioners must maintain an independence from those they cover. Without this foundation principle the editorial agenda is suspect. It often put journalists into a difficult and sometimes dangerous position. Sometimes it takes great courage to maintain.

It must serve as an independent monitor of power. This is the principle recognised by Cobbett and Paine, and what got them into trouble with that power. The four estates of society each must watch over the others without fear or favour. Journalism can and must carefully watch the powerful few and ensure that any corruption comes to light. The first principle often makes it the last resort for protecting citizens.

It must provide a forum for public criticism and compromise. Unless society's various perspectives and interests are fairly represented then there is a danger that only the most spectacular conflicts will form the basis of choice. If we want to prevent governance by fiat then following this principle ensures that the discussion takes place in the open and all voices are heard. Through this, journalism earns its right to subsidy in the form of the airwaves, Internet bandwidth and postal costs that news generally enjoys.

It must strive to keep the significant interesting and relevant. It makes great TV to wade through the emotional mire of sensational events - especially when there are dramatic pictures. It is common for news to focus on the stories that capture public attention. These are not always the things to which we should be paying most attention. A British special adviser to government called described September 11th as a very good day to bury bad news. She inadvertently highlighted the dangers when news becomes a victory of sensation over significance. She lost her job because of the dangerous truth of succumbing to bread and circuses. 

It must strive to keep the news comprehensive and proportional. Linked to the previous principle, this one describes the first draft of history. This charts society and is vital in helping citizens and communities to navigate it. Any map that is incomplete or whose proportions are inaccurate is of little use. 

Its practitioners must be allowed to exercise their personal conscience. Journalism is emergent of inequity. People who are offended morally and ethically by things that they see are often driven to action of some kind. Everyone has a perspective and journalists should be driven by their consciences, both externally in their work and internally in the newsroom. In this way the integrity of their overall work is preserved.

Citizens, too have rights and responsibilities when it comes to the news. The digitalisation of production has democratised access to publishing. This has disrupted the industry where once the publishers were the gatekeepers who decide what people should and should not know. First came computers, then the industry became digitalised and that washed away the barriers to entry. Cobbett and Paine had to rent or buy an expensive press. Today, a blog can be set up for no cost at all. The consequence is that anyone can look like a journalist. Anyone can manipulate the news in the service of their special agenda. Fake news spreads when verification is wanting.

The research of the Committee for Concerned Journalists resulted in a book, The Elements of Journalism. This is a vital read for anyone interested in creating or consuming journalism.