NA: Journalism Objectivity Is Dead

Nick Adams: I’d say that objectivity in journalism dead. And, when it’s not, it’s boring. Reporters will write something that’s objective, but it’s really nothing more than a he-said, she-said item. Yawn. Meanwhile, hundreds of other online, TV and radio sources have been spinning away on the story. Most of us make up our minds based on the headline, lede and first paragraph. The rest, we just let our filters take over. After all, true analysis takes a lot of work and thought—something neither most consumers or producers of news have the time nor energy for these days. Full comment below .

Question: Yesterday, Beth Bollinger launched a great discussion by asking for recommendations re: good news sources to read. Above, Nick suggets that objective journalism is dead. Do you agree? Can you name news sources that are not only good but objective, too?

Which conservative news source do I consider best? Simple: HBO.

Back in my newsmagazine days, I considered US News & World Reports a good right-of-center source. Now, I look to the WSJ’s reporting for reliable, objective reporting. Of course, you have to completely ignore the opinion page which is Faux News in print.

I’d say that objectivity in journalism dead. And, when it’s not, it’s boring. Reporters will write something that’s objective, but it’s really nothing more than a he-said, she-said item. Yawn. Meanwhile, hundreds of other online, TV and radio sources have been spinning away on the story.

Most of us make up our minds based on the headline, lede and first paragraph. The rest, we just let our filters take over. After all, true analysis takes a lot of work and thought—something neither most consumers or producers of news have the time nor energy for these days.