Objectivity

Objectivity, loosely defined in the context of journalism as impartial, detached reporting based on verifiable data, is widely understood to be the goal of many news organizations. Many argue that objectivity is a belief for journalists and the cornerstone of professionalization in liberal media systems. In those contexts, it is often central to journalism training and how journalists situate themselves in their role of mediator between newsmakers and the general public. It can be an effective defense to assure the public that journalists act ethically and for the greater good, rather than for personal motivations or societal elites. Yet, how objectivity is enacted daily by thousands of journalists around the world does not always meet those ideals.

Members of the public sphere, ranging from elites to ...