I want to suggest three ideas that should be part of the discussion about #journalism, objectivity and point of view, ongoing among @TomRosenstiel , @WesleyLowery , @jayrosen_nyu and others.
These ideas are centred on 1) method, 2) interpretation and 3) truth. 1/
These ideas are centred on 1) method, 2) interpretation and 3) truth. 1/
1) An open mind is not the same as an empty mind. Every inquiry is based on prior experience, accumulated information and awareness of knowledge gaps. This is as true of science and the humanities as it is of news reporting. Existing knowledge + identified gaps —> method. 2/
Objectivity as neutrality or impartiality is not defensible, so some people speak of “objectivity of method.” But even this is misleading. Throughout an inquiry, decisions are made about what and what not to pursue. Better to take the word that begins with O off the table. 3/
2) All perception leads to interpretation. All writing and all aspects of news presentation involve interpretation. Journalism’s answer to criticisms of bias can’t be to adopt the premises of evidence-based science. Those aren’t beyond criticism themselves, and ... 4/
... many of the methods of physical and social science aren’t suited to the work of reporting news. Journalism must refine and create its own methods of determining accuracy. But along with verification, journalism is a practice of interpretation and artifice. 5/
Integrating observation, verification, interpretation and artifice is the work of reporting. How it’s done and to what effect is the object of study for journalism scholarship. This framework generates discussion about effectiveness rather than claims to moral superiority. 6/
Truth is a word that gets in the way of analysis. Truth is best used to signify a broad philosophy or system of believing. News reporting is vitally concerned with establishing accuracy - whether claims are true or false. But truth is more than the sum of things that are true. 7/
The goal of news reporting is not to establish, confirm or advocate for truth in this overarching sense. It’s to pose pertinent questions, discover accurate answers, and present conclusions about their importance: and interrelations. Points of view inform it but don’t ... 8/
... circumscribe it. People will use the results of news reporting to develop, confirm or alter their own conceptions of truth. If enough people find themselves on the same new path, that may generate more news, or more avenues of inquiry. 9/
But the goal of news reporting, (such a huge part of journalism) is not to advocate for any truth, new or established. It’s to keep watching, asking questions and probing - aware of its interpretative framework, faithful to accuracy, and imaginative in its use of artifice. 10/
Thanks for reading these thoughts about journalism’s method, interpretation and truth. If you found them stimulating or useful, please consider a like or RT. Unroll upcoming. @RSJnow @jsource @caj @CANmediacouncil #cdnmedia
@threadreaderapp unroll pls tks
