Truth and Objectivity

“A democracy needs an institution that challenges the powerful, that gets beneath the official story to dig for truth, and that communicates the truth credibly and trustworthily” (Csikszentmihalyi et al, 2001).

Truth and objectivity are the cornerstones of good journalistic practice. When journalism is dedicated to accuracy and objectivity, it engenders public trust, which is essential to the functioning of the industry. However it is often difficult for journalists to maintain absolute objectivity in reporting, and at times, undesirably, personal feelings and bias obscure accuracy in reporting. Csikszenmihalyi proposed that to remain dedicated to the truth seeking mission and to produce quality, objective journalism that practitioners need to develop inner moral codes to guide their action in the field:

“The purest version of journalists gaining control of their work is when they call forth inner moral codes that help them resist illegitimate pressures and remain focused on the truth seeking mission” (Gardner, Csikszentmihayli and Damon, 2001).

These value systems or moral codes may take the form of internal oaths to report objectively, or to eschew matters in which you have a personal stake. However, as time goes on, journalists are finding ways to incorporate their own biases into stories intentionally,but retaining an illusion of objectivity to suit the agenda of their publication. Journalists, traditionally, distanced themselves from their own bias and independent ideas as part of their professional practice.In modern times, many journalists embrace bias, and allow their independent views to seep into stories, compensating for this with self conscious distancing, checking and balancing strategies.As time moves on, journalism is expanding into many different forms where freedom of expression is often prevalent and accepted.

An impediment to journalists working independently and free from subjective influences is the prominence of public relations as agenda setters in modern journalism. Public relations and press releases are undermining journalistic independence, setting the agenda, and taking advantage of the fact that there is less investigative reporting as more time is spent in the office and there is an expectation on journalists to produce more stories with shorter deadlines (Conley and Lamble, 2006).

While it remains a difficult task for journalists to remain dedicated to the truth seeking mission and report objectively, it is still possible to do so, particularly if journalists stick to the basics. Fact checking, cross referencing, delving through archives, interviewing multiple people on issues, ensuring spelling and grammar is impeccable and so forth are ways journalists can continue to report accurately and truthfully, thus maintaining public trust and therefore fulfilling journalism's duty as informing a deomcratic society.

Sources:

Conley, D & Lamble, S (2006). The Daily Miracle, 3rd Edn, Melbourne, Oxford University Press.

Gardner, H, Csikszentmihalyi, M, & Damon, W (2001). ‘Good Work in Journalism Today’ in Good Work: When Excellence and Ethics Meet, Basic Books, New York, pp179-206.