How the impression of neutrality and objectivity is maintained in news
For this assignment, you will write an essay based on academic literature. Choose
one of the following three questions:
1. Can news be neutral and objective?
Discuss what these concepts entail by drawing on academic literature about how
achievable they are. Present examples of how the impression of neutrality and
objectivity is maintained in news.
2. ‘News is a mirror to reality’.
Agree or disagree with this statement. Base yourself on academic literature regarding
representation and issues with news-making.
3. Explain how celebrities and tabloids have a symbiotic relationship.
In answering this question, use academic literature to discuss how tabloids and
celebrities relate to each other, and paparazzi and invasion of privacy v. freedom of
speech.
Formal requirements:
1. Draw on no less than 6 academic sources.
2. Use correct, complete and consistent in-text referencing and a bibliography.
3. Format your essay in Times New Roman 12pt, justified, and double spaced.
4. Wordcount: 1000 words, meaning minimum 900, and maximum 1100.
5. Include an introduction and a conclusion, and use subsections to structure your
essay.
Solution
Introduction
According to Media Studies, (Fourie, 2010, p. 239) the perspective of news is a variant
dependent on the person reporting the news or the people who hear it. The societal factors
surrounding the topic of news are many. Objectivity and neutrality in news can be explained as
measures to make news fair, nonpartisan, unbiased, and accurate. The neutrality of news may be
tested according to the extent that the report incorporates his own feeling in the matter and the
freedom left to the audience. The audience should be able to make their own decisions and figure
out their emotional response towards the matter. News outlets have been accused of leaning
towards one side; politically or socially. The essay discusses this matter and analyses the
performance of modern news outlets.
The Theory versus the Reality
According to the Classical and Contemporary Social Theory, (Delaney, 2014, p. 342) the
idea of neutrality and objectivity has been incorporated in many social aspects of life. The truth
of its presumed existence is debateable. The neutrality of gender roles and opportunity in the
world supports this statement today. Laws espouse that the genders be equal though they are not
reality. The same case applies to news; they are branded as objective though they are not. News
is told to tell the stories of people, the reality of it may not be pleasant to the eye but it should be
truthful. A reporter who distorts this image to report a story according to his convictions
misleads his viewers.
NEUTRALITY AND OBJECTIVITY IN NEWS 3
However, if the rules were followed to the letter, reporting news would be similar to
reporting a bunch of facts. Viewers would become disinterested. Viewers prefer captivating
stories, for a reporter to make a story interesting, he has to incorporate his views of matters and
the perspective he sees. The story must be told from the eyes of a human being rather than from
the analysis of a computer or a robot. This personal feel is what attracts and keeps viewers
watching. The reporter has the ability to make the viewer interested in news that he may not be
interested in under usual circumstances. This tactic requires the reporter to be more subjective
and relate the news to the interest of the viewer. The media has a duty to present information that
is truthful and unbiased; however, the sector has been commercialized and influenced by politics
and greed to the benefit of the outlets and at the expense of the people who rely on it to receive
information.
The media and news have a symbiotic relationship; media houses gain their popularity
and business from news and news are reported through media stations. The presumption that the
media does not choose the news is untrue; best selling stories have more popularity no matter
their relevance to the viewers do. The process of searching for stories, compiling editing and
reporting is riddling with selection of what would be acceptable and would not be. This process
results into subjective news presented in a subjective way. The ownership and leadership of
media outlets also account as contributors to lack or presence of objectivity in its news,
(Yu, 2013, p. 21).
The Impression of Neutrality and Objectivity
Neutrality in its essence is present in news from majority of the media outlets. The factors
discussed above explain why this state of affairs exists. Generally, the limits of objectivity and
neutrality are over emphasized and are restrictive. News is presently classified as true or untrue,
NEUTRALITY AND OBJECTIVITY IN NEWS 4
fair or otherwise. Objectiveness in this criterion lies in telling facts. Though this view may
appear stretched, an elaborate explanation of fact and that explain why the reporter arrives at the
view given is more wholesome but may ruin the credibility of some news outlets, like the New
York, (Collings, 2010, p. 157). The availability of proof gives the viewer an opportunity to make
his own decision instead of relying completely on the on comments of the reporter. News
reporters cannot support their stories as being objective because of company mottos promising
viewers accurate, balanced and objective news, if their brand fails to deliver these promises,
(Haskell, 2009, p. 101).
Through such a perspective, we can critically analyse the news that the media provides.
Standards that encourage truthful information based on facts that can be proved are
recommendable. Majority of reporters are encouraged to follow this system. Laws concerning
media are encouraging reporters to disseminate news that is accurate and unbiased; this aims at
improving the professionalism of the field. The ICC reported that some of the instigators of the
war that left over 800,000 people dead were unregulated and biased news. Media outlets try to
give balanced news; however, they only do so to certain extents. Subjectivity tends to increase in
political matters such as elections and war times.
The ability of a reporter to deliver news that is objective however not neutral could be his
most redeeming quality as a professional. While the two may be similar to an extent, the trait of
objectiveness is more desired and highly captivating to viewers. Neutral news may be viewed as
lacking a backbone or a concept that they base themselves on. Objective news contains all the
elements of neutral news in stating the facts but does not fully nature a well-informed public.
The purpose on news is to create a public well versed in matters concerning them. While it is
important to let the public decide on the approach, they will take, it is necessary to help them
NEUTRALITY AND OBJECTIVITY IN NEWS 5
differentiate between what reliable information where all possible facts are include from mere
statements that hide the truth.
Conclusion
It is possible to mistake truth for clear fully organised lies. Social media, in one way or
the other, has substituted the traditional news outlets, (Lee, 2015, p. 312). This has reduced the
quality of news that the public receives. Objectivity requires that the reporter report the news free
of any bias, personal opinion or political alignment. The probability of this is low in the current
society. However, new ways of achieving standards close to these arisen. The necessity to prove
the facts delivered before including comments or opinions enables the reader to make his own
judgement according to how he view the facts. This method has its own faults where the reader
may not be able to differentiate the perspective of the reporter from other truths that the facts
may present. An open and unbiased media is able to lead to public better, giving truthful and
accurate news. Objectivity should be the cradle of news in the world. The reporter should present
his work to reflect the data he has collected. The commercialization of news has existed for
centuries, while this reality is not about to change, reporters should seek ways to maintain
respect for their professions.
NEUTRALITY AND OBJECTIVITY IN NEWS 6
References
Collings, A. (2010). Capturing the news: Three decades of reporting crisis and conflict.
Retrieved from
https://books.google.com/books?id=nqO_OifleVkC&pg=PT169&dq=impression+of+ob
jectivity+in+news&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=impression%20of%20obj
ectivity%20in%20news&f=false
Delaney, T. (2014). Classical and contemporary social theory: Investigation and application.
Retrieved from
https://books.google.com/books?id=66lYCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA342&dq=the+theory+of+
neutrality+and+objectivity&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjb_-
_tp_zLAhXiAJoKHaMvDRgQ6AEIUTAJ#v=onepage&q=the%20theory%20of%20neu
trality%20and%20objectivity&f=false
Fourie, P. J.(2010).Media studies. Retrieved from
https://books.google.com/books?id=7531OTEpD_wC&pg=PA240&dq=Can+news+be+n
eutral+and+objective&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Can%20news%20be%
20neutral%20and%20objective&f=false
Haskell, D. M. (2009). Through a lens darkly: How the news media perceive and portray
evangelicals. Retrieved from
https://books.google.com/books?id=TzJMfNOR5O0C&pg=PA101&dq=Can+news+be+n
eutral+and+objective&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Can%20news%20be%
20neutral%20and%20objective&f=false
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Lee, J. (2015). The Double-Edged Sword: The Effects of Journalists' Social Media Activities on
Audience Perceptions of Journalists and Their News Products. Journal of Computer-
Mediated Communication, 20(3), 312-329. doi:10.1111/(issn)1083-6101
Yu, L. (2013). An Examination of Hong Kong Newspapers’ Journalistic Objectivity: A
Comparative Study of Political Reports. An Examination of Hong Kong Newspapers’
Journalistic Objectivity: A Comparative Study of Political Reports. Retrieved from
http://ccs.nccu.edu.tw/word/HISTORY_PAPER_FILES/5728122014.pdf
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