Objectivity

The term objectivity is multifaceted and contested, both in social sciences and in philosophy. It stems from the philosophical distinction between object and subject and the question of transcendental (supernatural) ideas and definitions independent of the individual. Therefore, objectivity should be seen as a construct that tries to describe social, natural, and abstract facts, free of undue reliance on subjective bias. Nowadays, objectivity is mostly defined as absence of subjectivity, emotions, feelings, interests, and prejudices in academic and journalistic contexts—be it investigating empirical facts, news-relevant incidents, or theory and notion building. Thus, objectivity as a professional norm coincides with neutrality and other concepts of journalistic ethics and morals and thus provides part of occupational journalistic norms. Following a brief outline of the origins and development ...