With all due respect, Len Downie is one of those guys who was so concerned about appearing to be objective that he wouldn’t vote. Objectivity is the fair-minded pursuit of the truth — not so-called balance, not both-sides neutrality. Seen in its proper light, objectivity is still a value worth striving for. #journalism https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/01/30/newsrooms-news-reporting-objectivity-diversity/
@dankennedy_nu But "objectivity" has become a cudgel for many who hate the press, and a crutch for some reporters. There are better ways to outline the task.
@dankennedy_nu @DSmith_Tucson I call the evil twin ‘performative objectivity’ to differentiate it a bit.
Not voting because of "appearances" is pretty damn performative. Pretending you don't have opinions is misleading.
It's weird & kinda sad that after how many years of encouraging voting & providing info on it, Cillizza now writes "Participating in democracy is not a disqualifying characteristic in a reporter."
There's a vast difference between being a political activist and being a voter.
@dankennedy_nu @DSmith_Tucson It's the difference between "being objective" and "Objectivity". One is a normal term that we all use day to day, and the other is a dogmatized idea based around lazy bothsidesism. I don't think anyone is saying to stop being objective, but that "Objectivity" has come to mean a specific thing in newsrooms, and that specific thing is not helpful for informing people.
@DSmith_Tucson I don’t think we should give up on objectivity just because some have twisted its meaning beyond recognition.