Working: The Myth of Journalistic Objectivity

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Society & Culture, Business, News

3.9 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 11 December 2022

⏱️ 60 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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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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0:57.0	Every week we bring a topic to the family dinner table from gender dysphoria to monogamy to how to figure out if someone is into you.
1:03.0	Listen to Chosen Family every Wednesday on your favorite podcast app or watch full episodes on YouTube to get the full family experience.
1:10.0	Chosen Family is a part of the Forever Dog podcast network.
1:14.0	I don't believe in objectivity as something that happens in journalism. I think that we always have some kind of subjectivity.
1:30.0	And so I wanted to always let readers know who I'm referencing and if I have a relationship to them.
1:36.0	And I wanted to reject the idea that that in any way denigrates the quality of the work.
1:43.0	Welcome back to working. I'm your host, June Thomas.
1:47.0	And I'm your other host, Isaac Butler.
1:49.0	Isaac, it's always awesome to talk to you. But I think I recognize the dulcet tones we heard at the top of the show.
1:56.0	Who do they belong to?
1:58.0	Yes, we heard the dulcet tones of journalist, professor, theorist and all around mench, Stephen Thrasher.
2:05.0	Yes, I thought it was him and I should note here that Stephen is someone I've known and liked very much for several years.
2:13.0	We actually met in 2014 at the White House.
2:16.0	Oh, can you hear that place being dropped?
2:19.0	Yeah, amazing.
2:20.0	Yeah, although I have to admit it was a building tour that happened during a convening of queer journalists.
2:27.0	We weren't there to meet officials or interview anyone.
	...

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