My point is that when Williams was expressing his emotion, he was not reporting the news. He was at his other job, where being a "reporter" was not the job title. He was moonlighting, if you will, like the congresswoman who sings in bars. Of course a reporter is supposed to refrain from subjectivity as much as it possible when they are reporting. But what about when they are NOT reporting? They aren't reporting 24 hours a day. Aren't they allowed to have emotion and be subjective when they are not reporting? Or is the job title of reporter a forfeiture of first amendment rights, else one be canned?
As for your idea that it is impossible for humans to be totally objective, I agree. I also see however that some are better and some are worse at being objective, and at keeping bias out of the presentation. And it seems that people who are better at presenting uncolored facts might be the ones we'd like to report to us.
As for the reporter who glows about a particular school and doesn't address the concerns that you see, if he is a true reporter, he would gladly take your issues and address them with neutrality if he were a good reporter. If he did that, perhaps he could regain your trust. If he really is biased, he won't do it. It's a simple test, and I'd be interested to hear the response if you put the issues to him. Until you give him that opportunity, I don't see how you can completely write him off. He may have very good reasons for his lofty opinion of that school.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2010-10-27 12:03 am (UTC)As for your idea that it is impossible for humans to be totally objective, I agree. I also see however that some are better and some are worse at being objective, and at keeping bias out of the presentation. And it seems that people who are better at presenting uncolored facts might be the ones we'd like to report to us.
As for the reporter who glows about a particular school and doesn't address the concerns that you see, if he is a true reporter, he would gladly take your issues and address them with neutrality if he were a good reporter. If he did that, perhaps he could regain your trust. If he really is biased, he won't do it. It's a simple test, and I'd be interested to hear the response if you put the issues to him. Until you give him that opportunity, I don't see how you can completely write him off. He may have very good reasons for his lofty opinion of that school.