“The Crucible” in Journalism
By Janelle Bradly
Journalism has taken new shape under new political climate in the last few years under the Trump Administration. Journalists being ridiculed for being on one side and attacking the other, their professionalism regarding objectivity has been critiqued and questioned. Along with journalists and news outlets coming under fire for their objectivity, the people have been in a media hysteria, claiming to not know what to believe and that news shouldn’t be taking for face value. Much like ‘The Crucible’ where everyone is talking and making claims and no one knows who to believe.
In journalism there is some sort of tier in terms of the kind of reporting or coverage you’d receive from an outlet. One has a reputation for being credible and the other has inconsistencies with their sources or facts. Although there is something to be wary of as a consumer. Most of the news content on the internet or social media can’t be taken for face value, because it’s the internet and anyone can publish anything and proclaim themselves as a “journalist”. So to an extent it can be believed that you can’t trust everything because not everything published is backed up by facts of research.
I guess you can say that as a consumer of news you have to think about how outlets prioritize their news. Should one element outweigh the other? Facts matter but can it mix well with subjectivity. Is there balance? Of course facts are the paramount but there needs to be some sort of professionalism and not necessarily that objectivity doesn’t matter. It’s as if saying “you have free will when publishing or orchestrating news” when that shouldn’t be the case. Objectivity isn’t something that has to be put in practice but reckless subjectivity isn’t to be allowed.
Expecting journalists to be completely objective isn’t realistic either. A lot of the issues they present in a news article may very well be affecting them. In terms of politics and reform, it affects everyone as a whole and journalists are no exception to what is going on. Sense politics are of a particular subject and can make people have an array of emotions, journalists can’t be expected to shut down in the name of professionalism. There isn’t an emotional or psychological clearance for reporter as they craft a story. All they can do is present the facts in a fair way balanced with their subjectivity.
You’re kind of missing out on news if you’re focused on objectivity. There are events, stories and opportunities missed in journalism because a journalist wants to stay true to their objectivity. Things that matter would take a back burner because a journalist doesn’t want to come off the wrong way. As if to say “I’m not going to pursue this story because it hits too close to home so I’ll leave it to someone else to cover it.” This would make a huge problem of negligence and abandonment of important stories that deserve to be told. Objectivity becomes an obstacle for journalist and would rather “play it safe” than to take on big stories that may make them present bias.
Objectivity is becoming obsolete in news. Although that is true, just because a journalist will add in their two cents to a story, doesn’t mean it will ignite someone to think for themselves. Many citizens consume “news” blindly and take everything for fact. So even if a reporter is stating their opinion. Many people will still take it as a fact because they expect the journalists to be the researcher and the voice for them. Not everything someone reads will make them want to have a voice in something. Although there is a chance that a journalists subjective piece can make someone rethink about their own circumstance and think about society.
