All that matters is an 'appearance' of objectivity

(From a 'World Views Farewell, Part 2, SF Gate, Gomez): "Alas, the recognition of the obligation and fundamental duty of the so-called free press to pursue and present to its audiences the truth about any subject

• is a notion that was long ago forsaken in
• American journalism.

• Just sit in on any class at a journalism school in the U.S. in which the tired formula for "seeking objectivity" in reporting is taught.

News flash: There is no such thing as objectivity in American journalism. Instead, in large part as a result of the formulaic practices that are taught in U.S. journalism schools, what most mass-media news organizations pursue is

• what might be described as merely the presentation of the

• appearance of objectivity (or "objectivity") in their reporting about any particular subject.

Thus, on television, the same talking heads from the so-called left and the so-called right (American media incorrectly use the terms "liberal" and "conservative" all the time, but that's the subject of another discussion) routinely appear, simplistically

• representing their host programs' dutiful attempts to appear
• "objective."" via Poynter.org/Romenesko

The only people so-called journalists are fooling are themselves. They are self-appointed to begin with. One of their best cites either deliberately refraining from voting, or voting as a libertarian, for example, as proof they are totally objective human beings in all cases. (sm)

Tweet Stumbleupon StumbleUpon