Is Advocating Appropriate?

Advocacy journalism is a branch of journalism that throws off the restraints of standard objective reporting, and blatantly adopts a subjective viewpoint that typically promotes a particular political or social end.

Journalism Quarterly’s Morris Janowitz discussed the stark contrast between advocacy journalism, as opposed to the more traditional strain, in his insightful article “Professional Models in Journalism.” Janowitz further illustrated the distinction between the two types by examining the opposing viewpoints each take on confidentiality — gate keeper journalists place a high value on discretion while advocacy journalists make it a point, and even consider it a duty, to reveal their findings to the public.

“The gatekeeper orientation emphasized the search for objectivity and the sharp separation of reporting fact from disseminating opinion [while…advocacy journalists] claimed that the search for objective reality led to a retreat from personal and political responsibility,” Janowitz said.

In a considerably different take on what it means to be an advocate, Rolling Stone’s Matt Taibbi asserted that any journalist who claims not to advance a certain point of view is fooling not only himself, but also his readers. 
 “All journalism is advocacy journalism […] “Objectivity” is a fairy tale invented purely for the consumption of the credulous public, sort of like the Santa Claus myth. Obviously, journalists can strive to be balanced and objective, but that’s all it is, striving,” Taibbi stated.

Taibbi further ventured that it is better for news organizations and journalists to make it well-known that reporters have personal biases and agendas that may seep through in their reporting, as journalists are then being completely authentic, building a sense of trust with the audience.

I believe that both featured journalists have a point, and that there is a healthy medium to be found in reporting both objectively or subjectively. While “gate keeping” journalism should be the standard for news reporting — phrased in an unbiased way and not excessively promoting certain causes — there is a place for advocacy in the realm of media and publicity as well.

News and current events should be reported with a degree of professionalism. Especially regarding events of the recent past, vital information will come to light as the news story develops, making conjecture or advocacy journalism extremely dangerous ground to tread.

Political or social events directly affecting the people, however, are open to scrutiny and evaluation. Therefore, in my opinion, as long as a prior declaration of personal endorsement is made, statements that promote a certain viewpoint are healthy, and a permitted expression of America’s first amendment supporting the right to freedom of speech.

That being said, advocate journalists should be extremely wary of

· Being bribed, either monetarily or with personal favors

· Being influenced by the majority

· Letting their viewpoints overly saturate a piece

· Merely parroting their employer’s or organization’s public standpoint

Especially in lieu of social justice or human rights issues, advocacy journalism may be used to shed light on medical, political, and military crises in a powerful and positive way; but those who wield this influence must use it discerningly.