Journalists first obligation is to the truth...the truth must be sought and facts must be vigorously checked in order to be loyal to it's most important obligation, its citizens.
Walter Lippmann as quoted in "the elements of journalism" said, "it does not matter that the news is not susceptible of mathematical statement. In fact, just because news is complex and slippery good reporting requires the exercise if the highest scientific virtues."
Unlike Edward R. Murrow's era of objectivity in news, something he was firmly against, the scientific method of objectivity does not relate to the aim of the craft but to the discipline.
Bottom line objectivity is in the method not the aim.
The scientific method applies to several principles,
- Never add anything that was not there.
- Never deceive the audience.
- Be as tranparent as possible.
- Rely on your own original reporting.
- Exercise humility.
Today journalists rarely practice the objective method in gathering news.
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