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Slate Books

Working: The Myth of Journalistic Objectivity

Slate Books

Slate Podcasts

Arts

3.8546 Ratings

🗓️ 11 December 2022

⏱️ 57 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This week, Isaac talks to journalist Steven Thrasher, author of The Viral Underclass: The Human Toll When Inequality and Disease Collide. In the interview, Steven discusses the origins of the book, his decision to include himself in the narrative, and his distaste for the idea of journalistic objectivity. He also shares some tips about outlining and interviewing. After the interview, Isaac and co-host June Thomas talk about how to cite sources without disrupting the flow of nonfiction writing. Then June and Working co-host Karen Han discuss the creative challenge of gift-giving.  In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, Steven discusses his career journey.  Send your questions about creativity and any other feedback to working@slate.com or give us a call at (304) 933-9675. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get an ad-free experience across the network and exclusive content on many shows—you’ll also be supporting the work we do here on Working. Sign up now at slate.com/workingplus to help support our work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

I don't believe in objectivity as something that happens in journalism. I think that we always have some kind of subjectivity. And so I wanted to always let readers know who I'm referencing and if I have a relationship to them.

0:22.2

And I wanted to reject the idea that that in any way denigrates the quality of the work.

0:29.8

Welcome back to working. I'm your host, June Thomas.

0:33.6

And I'm your other host, Isaac, it's always awesome to talk to you.

0:39.3

But I think I recognize the dulcet tones we heard at the top of the show.

0:42.7

Who do they belong to?

0:44.3

Yes, we heard the dulcet tones of journalist, professor, theorist, and all-around

0:48.8

Mench, Stephen Thrasher.

0:51.2

Ah, yes, I thought it was him.

0:53.8

And I should note here that Stephen is someone I've known

0:56.5

and liked very much for several years. We actually met in 2014 at the White House. Oh,

1:02.8

oh, can you hear that place being dropped? I don't know. Yeah, I'm amazing. Yeah, although I have

1:07.0

to admit, it was a building tour that happened during a convening of queer

1:13.1

journalists. We weren't there to meet officials or interview anyone. So, you know, I went to the

1:18.0

White House once in high school to be part of a group of carol singers. They had all these high school

1:23.9

choruses singing carols in different rooms of the White House because they do,

1:28.3

you know, Christmas tours and stuff like that. Yeah, but was Stephen Thrasher there with you?

1:32.4

I don't think so. He was not. He was not. So you have the better story. You have the better story.

1:35.5

Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry. Stephen also one of the all-time great uses of Twitter,

1:42.6

all value, no bullshit, just a superstar on Twitter.

1:46.8

But why did you want to speak with him for working?

1:50.1

Well, Stephen is the author of The Viral Underclass, The Human Tull, When Inequality and Disease Collide.

...

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