Can journalism be truly unbiased? What appears to be bias is in some cases thorough reporting and it is often difficult to discern the difference. Journalism must be almost anthropological in nature; observation without participation and strict adherence to the facts. It requires not only the journalist but also the institution that employees him to be unbiased and objective. But, is it possible? I would suggest that it is not possible for any person, journalist or otherwise, to be 100% unbiased on any subject. However, there is a journalistic obligation to attempt objectivity in every situation.
The issue of showing graphic images to a national audience is a tricky subject. It can be particularly emotional for viewers when the images in question are of dead or wounded soldiers during wartime. But, everyone knows that soldiers die during war. It is not the idea that is offensive but the images themselves; this suggests a society that is apathetic towards the pursuit of truth. When America goes to war, the people literally pay for it. If the public supports a war with their tax dollars then they are not only entitled, but beholden to see every aspect of that war.
It is difficult to maintain journalistic integrity when the power of a journalistic institution is too centralized. An excellent example is the controversial Fox News Network. In the 2000 Presidential Election Fox news was the first to report George W. Bush as the winner based solely on the decision of one man, Roger Ailes. Rupert Murdoch holds complete creative control over the media conglomerate and his personal conservative bias influences all aspects of the network. A division of power within a network is necessary to create an environment that encourages balanced reporting.
Al-Jezeera is not exempt from the plague of propaganda. Donald Rumsfeld very publicly accused the Arab network of concocting inflammatory editorials and using women and children to make false claims about military events. Their decision to show American P.O.W.'s and dead U.S. soldiers was reviled by the administration and the public, but images of dead Iraqi soldiers and citizens were shown every day with no such outcry. Part of the responsibility of journalism is to report the facts and while the picture my be unpleasant it is also a truthful representation of what is really happening.
Journalism is integral to our society. As citizens of a democracy it is our responsibility to stay informed on the state of the world that we live in. While no one can completely remove themselves from any situation, particularly if one has strong personal feelings on a subject, the public depends on the journalistic community to tell the whole truth with no spin. No one person, or small group of people, should have the power to decide what the public has a right to know.
The issue of showing graphic images to a national audience is a tricky subject. It can be particularly emotional for viewers when the images in question are of dead or wounded soldiers during wartime. But, everyone knows that soldiers die during war. It is not the idea that is offensive but the images themselves; this suggests a society that is apathetic towards the pursuit of truth. When America goes to war, the people literally pay for it. If the public supports a war with their tax dollars then they are not only entitled, but beholden to see every aspect of that war.
It is difficult to maintain journalistic integrity when the power of a journalistic institution is too centralized. An excellent example is the controversial Fox News Network. In the 2000 Presidential Election Fox news was the first to report George W. Bush as the winner based solely on the decision of one man, Roger Ailes. Rupert Murdoch holds complete creative control over the media conglomerate and his personal conservative bias influences all aspects of the network. A division of power within a network is necessary to create an environment that encourages balanced reporting.
Al-Jezeera is not exempt from the plague of propaganda. Donald Rumsfeld very publicly accused the Arab network of concocting inflammatory editorials and using women and children to make false claims about military events. Their decision to show American P.O.W.'s and dead U.S. soldiers was reviled by the administration and the public, but images of dead Iraqi soldiers and citizens were shown every day with no such outcry. Part of the responsibility of journalism is to report the facts and while the picture my be unpleasant it is also a truthful representation of what is really happening.
Journalism is integral to our society. As citizens of a democracy it is our responsibility to stay informed on the state of the world that we live in. While no one can completely remove themselves from any situation, particularly if one has strong personal feelings on a subject, the public depends on the journalistic community to tell the whole truth with no spin. No one person, or small group of people, should have the power to decide what the public has a right to know.
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