Is Objectivity Essential to Journalism?

Open to Debate

Education, Society & Culture, News, Government, Politics

4.5 • 2.1K Ratings

🗓️ 25 August 2023

⏱️ 51 minutes

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Summary

For decades, objectivity has been cited as journalism's gold standard, promising that journalists would stick “to the facts" and deliver both sides of the story, excluding their personal views. Those in support say it builds trust and gives newsreaders the information they need to form their own opinions. Those against say it suppresses certain valuable viewpoints and that some issues don’t merit the "both sides" treatment. Now, we debate: "Is Objectivity Essential in Journalism?” Arguing Yes: Bret Stephens, Opinion Columnist at The New York Times Arguing No: Leonard Downie, Jr, Former Executive Editor of The Washington Post Nayeema Raza, Journalist and executive producer and co-host of Vox Media’s "On with Kara Swisher" podcast, is the guest moderator. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi, everybody. Welcome to Open to Debate. I'm Neymaraza. I'm a journalist at New York magazine,
0:05.3	the executive producer and co-host of the podcast on with Cara Swisher, and I'm the guest moderator
0:10.4	of today's debate. We're going to be tackling the question, is objectivity essential to journalism?
0:16.4	For generations, objectivity has been enshrined in newsrooms and seen as a guiding light to true
0:21.1	and trusted reporting. But in recent years, some journalists have been pushing back against the
0:25.5	construct. If you've been on Twitter recently, one, I'm very sorry, it's a bit of a dumpster
0:30.5	fire. And two, you may have seen this debate play out. Journalist Bus Lowry has argued that,
0:35.8	quote, American view from nowhere, objectivity obsessed, both-sided journalism is a failed experiment.
0:41.3	While reporter Krishan Amampur has advocated for reporting, that is truthful, not neutral.
0:46.9	Editors have warned about upending this norm, especially when it comes to journalists
0:51.1	sharing their views. As the New York Times executive editor Joe Khan put it, you can't be an
0:55.6	activist and be a times journalist at the same time. The debate is also playing out in newsrooms,
1:01.5	heatedly, and slack channels, editorial meetings, and leaked letters from editors. But what is objectivity?
1:07.9	How does it impact diversity in newsrooms and news coverage? Who benefits from it? Is the purpose
1:13.3	of journalism to gather and report information or to reveal truth? And are the two purposes I
1:18.1	just listed synonymous or competing? These are questions that are critical in a moment where
1:22.6	politicians in the public dispute what effect even is, and when misinformation and mistrust are rampant.
1:29.2	So we at Open to Debate are asking this question, is objectivity essential to journalism?
1:34.7	Arguing yes, is New York Times' opinion columnist Brett Stevens. Welcome back, Brett.
1:39.4	Nice to see you, Naima. And arguing no to the question is objectivity essential to journalism.
1:44.0	Is former executive editor of the Washington Post and professor at Arizona State University's
1:48.7	Walter Cronkite School of Journalism, Leonard Downey Jr. Len, thanks so much for being here.
	...

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