Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong
Objectivity, truth,
and credibility
Critical issues in journalism and
global communications
Week 2
1
Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong
Colin Powell’s speech to the United Nations in
2003, showing evidence that Iraq had weapons of mass
destruction (WMD). Did the media report it objectively?
2
Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong
Structure of presentation





What is “truth” in journalism?
Objectivity
1. Accuracy
2. Verification
3. Against bias
4. Comprehensiveness
Criticisms of objectivity
Alternatives to objectivity
Questions for discussion
Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong
What is “truth”?



“Everyone agrees that journalists must tell
the truth, but people are befuddled by that the
truth means.” Kovach and Rosenstiel
Does truth exist? Postmodernists deconstruct
and deny it
Truth: differences in science, religion and
journalism
Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong
When a scientist says something is
true, what does he or she mean?



Achieved through a process hypothesis
formation; repeated observations; followed by
theory building to account for observations.
Scientific theories can be tested and verified.
Two scientists performing the same
experiment should achieve the same results.
Would two journalists write the same story
the same way?
5
Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong
Scientific truth






Four steps of scientific methods:
1. theory and hypothesis
2. empirical observations, experiments and
calculations to test hypothesis
3. original hypothesis is either accepted or
rejected
4. original theory could be modified
Repeatibility: others can repeat experiment
with the same results
6
Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong
Religious truth




Religious truth: Revealed to men and women
in divine contacts and passed to generations
in sacred traditions (texts and rituals)
Usually cannot be tested or verified
Must be accepted as a matter of faith
Exceptions: meditative practices (e.g., in
Buddhism) that can be seen as ‘technologies
of mind’, or tests.
7
Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong
Journalistic truth


Largely based on reporting what sources
have said: it is taken on belief that it is true,
but should be verified.
Sometimes based on what the reporter has
seen and experienced first hand.
8
Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong
What is Truth?
Three kinds of truth:
Scientific
truth
Based on
experiment
and observations,
which are tested
repeatedly. Can and
should be verified.
Journalistic
truth
Based on what
someone has
said or seen.
Sometimes
cannot be verified.
Religious
truth
Belief and
faith.
Usually
cannot
be verified.
9
Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong
Are eyewitness accounts the
answer?




Psychologists point out that seeing is not
always believing.
Confirmation bias: we tend to seek and
recollect facts according to our pre-existing
ideas.
Information that runs counter to our ideas
tends to be discounted.
Eyewitness accounts often differ: e.g., Titanic
survivors.
10
Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong
Towards the journalistic method:
“I made it a principle not to write down the first story
that came down my way, and not even to be guided by
my own general impressions; either I was present myself
at the events which I have described, or else I heard of them
from eyewitnesses whose reports I have checked with as
much thoroughness as possible. Not that even so the truth
was easy to discover: different eyewitnesses gave different
accounts of the same events, speaking out of partiality for
one side or the other, or else from imperfect memories.”
The Greek historian Thucydides (5 BC) describing
his method
11
Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong
1. Accuracy



Accuracy: get your facts right
Accuracy involves checking everything from
the spelling of names and facts, to getting
quotes accurately.
A basic principle of journalism, but the one
that is missed the most often due to time
pressures, carelessness, or ignorance.
12
Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong
2. Verification



Verify your facts.
Are the statements and facts that you are
reporting, both accurate and true?
“In the end, the discipline of verification is
what separates journalism from
entertainment, propaganda, fiction or art.”
Kovach and Rosenstiel
13
Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong
Arriving at a reasonably reliable version
of the truth takes time


Arriving at a reasonably accurate account of any
event is a process that could take several days,
weeks or longer
Verification as a process:
- Initially, get the facts down accurately as stated by
people
- Next, verify these facts, if not the same day, the
next day
- If there are inconsistencies, keep checking and
verifying and looking for new facts until you feel you
a have a complete story
14
Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong
3. Against bias




“We all have prejudices” – Milica Pesic,
Director, Media Diversity Institute (London)
Acknowledge your own preconceived notions
Actively look for information that counters
what you believe
If after making an honest effort you cannot
find such information, you can be a little bit
more confident in your story
15
Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong
The importance of good editors



Editors play an extremely important role in erifying
and checking the integrity of a story: a reporter
cannot do this alone.
Editors should go through stories line by line
checking facts as well as assertions. E.g., if a story
reads “according to sources” editors should check.
Who are the sources? How many are there? Is it just
one? Are there enough sources?
Editors can help remove the reporters unconscious
biases
16
Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong
Techniques to improve
accuracy
The San Jose Mercury News accuracy checklist:
- Is the lead sufficient supported?
- Has someone double checked names, titles, web
addresses etc in a story?
- Are all the stakeholders in a story identified,
contacted and given a chance to comment?
- Does the story pick sides and make subtle value
judgements?
- Are the quotes accurate and capture what the person
wanted to say
- Is anything missing?

17
Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong
The importance of method




Journalism needs to develop a set of objective,
transparent techniques and methods for news
reporting.
Reporters should make clear where information
comes from
Feedback from sources: after a story is published,
editors should consider checking with the subjects of
the story what they think about it.
This will also help reassure the public about the
credibility of the press.
18
Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong
The importance of attitude




Humility: reporters can only ever know a
small part of the truth. They should be willing
to acknowledge this.
An awareness of his or her own biases.
Intellectual honesty.
Objective and transparent methods.
19
Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong
Journalistic dishonesty

The most common form of intellectual
dishonesty : "journalists who select sources
to express what is really their own point of
view, and then use a neutral voice to make it
seem objective are engaged in a form of
deception."
20
Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong
4. Comprehensiveness



Multi-sided coverage: are there enough
sources? Are all important sources and
stakeholders given voice and covered?
Depth: is the context/history sufficiently
covered? Is sufficient explanation provided to
understand the story? (Out-of-context
presentation can be easily biased.)
Limitations: are limitations (on journalists
access) recognized? (Case of WMD/Colin
Powell)
Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong
Main ideas re objectivity




The crisis of credibility has arisen because
readers do not believe what journalists tell
them.
Journalists need to produce truthful, accurate
accounts of events. But this involves going
beyond surface facts, and verifying facts.
Can we make Thucydides our role model?
Objectivity is best thought of as a method.
22
Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong
The meaning of objectivity in
journalism



The word objectivity is misused to indicate
neutrality, or balance. In practice, this is not
possible.
What journalists need to do is use methods of
information gathering and reporting that are
objective and transparent (easily
understandable by the public).
Objectivity as an ideal
23
Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong
Criticisms of objectivity
1.
2.
3.
‘Sources rulez’: journalists rely on the
prominent and elite as their translators or
mediators.
Objectivity against independent thinking,
creativity, imagination, critical perspectives.
Objectivity just a technique by
journalists=disinterested spectators.
Journalists just report and not responsible
for creating news. Objective journalists are
amoral.
24
Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong
Alternatives to objectivity 1.



Investigative journalism (independent
research, in-deep, long projects)
Interpretive journalism (causal analysis)
Partisan journalism



In one-arty systems
In competitive systems (Fox TV)
Advocacy journalism


Setting new agendas
Proposing solutions (shark finning)
25
Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong
Alternatives to objectivity 2.

Public journalism movement (US)


Literary journalism


Between literature and j; subjective
Gonzo journalism (Hunter Thompson)


Local issues, bottom-up perspective
First person, ego-oriented, entertaining
Media pluralism and objectivity


Multiple segments of national media systems
Objective option may emerge from pluralist
26
Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong
Questions for the discussion
in the sections





Is objectivity possible? Can we reach it?
Is objectivity is biased in favour of the status
quo? What would we mean by this?
Is objectivity biased against independent
thinking? Do you agree with this?
What alternative values for journalists can we
propose?
Do you want to be an objective journalist?