Ethics and objectivity

American UniversityCentral Asia Researchpaper Journalistic objectivity andethics Sivasheva Veronika MM-105 Bishkek-1. Journalistic objectivityand the journalistic ethics are two controversial topics that are often discussedin professional journalism spheres and then in articles, books, on TV channels.Journalists discuss whether the objectivity and ethics are achievable anddesirable for the society.Before considering the professional aspects andinfluences of these two components of the professional journalism it isimportant to define objectivity and ethics.

One of the simplestways of understanding objectivity is simply to say that it is a contractbetween journalists on the one hand and their employers on the others J.Rosen Beyond objectivity , p.157 . The definition shows only one side of theterm objectivity. Exactly this definition shows that the objectivity is only astandard that professional journalists should follow, in order to get a job ina world- wide famous mass media.

A second way of understanding objectivity isas a theory how to get at the truth. J. Rosen, Beyondobjectivity , p.158 . This term shows that the objectivity can be theconcept of an article organization process. Objectivity is a technique ofpersuasion, a rhetorical strategy. J. Rosen, Beyondobjectivity , p.159 . The author of this article states that theobjectivity can also be a hook for reader, main idea why a reader will continuereading exact article.People usuallyare interested in news, because they want to get objective, balanced, andtruthful information, and if reader understands that an article is objective,he will probably read a story until the end, because is satisfies his wants about objectiveinformation.

Ethics- is a collectionof moral rules and laws the electronic encyclopedia- Wykepedia .First time term appeared in the Aristotle s work Practical philosophy . Thefirst ethical rules have appeared with the Bible. Seven mortal death sins areconsidered the first collection of ethical rules.

Time has passed and famousphilosophers started discussing the problem of ethics. Kant stated that ethicsis a strict obedience of official laws . The journalism ethics was developed by N. Machiavelli and first appearedin 1520 y. in the newspaper Princely Press .In this paper I willintroduce the main theories about the journalistic objectivity and ethics.Themain research methods that are used in this paper are the analysis ofdifferent sources of information books and articles , the questionnaire.2. The Objectivity in the journalismWhat is the history ofthe journalism objectivity term? The term objectivity didn t appear as partof journalism until the 1900-s, but the pursuit if the objectivity in journalismwas defined in the middle of the 19th century.

In 1867 J. Hanney published the book Haney s Guide to Authorship.Inthis book the author defined the qualities of objective reporting, Thereshould be no comments.

The editor should not be a partisan of either side. He should chronicle facts, but not giveopinions. If there be a public meeting, it should be reported fairly. p.92 cited from J. Hanney, 1867 .A few years later, inthe book Hints to Young Editor 1872, J. Mirando the author showed a strong endorsement of objectivity based on viewing news asa marketing strategy.In 1890, E. Shuman published a book Steps into Journalism.Inthis book E. Shuman created basics for a journalistic objectivity.I have conducted aninterview with the AUCA students from different departments in order to knowwhether they believe in the existence of objectivity. 80 80 students answered that they don t believe in objectivity and they don t think that theobjectivity is necessary.

In the Winter 2004 issue of NiemanReports, Geneva Overholser of the Missouri School ofJournalism and a highly respected professional, denounced objectivity as worththan useless, even harmful.In 1996, the Society ofProfessional journalists dropped the term objectivity from its code of ethics.

So much of news these days is all about throwinganything and everything out there half-truths, distortions, opinion news, andthe tell-it-like-it-is rantings of the contentiousbullies who run the talk shows. More and more, reporters who still viewobjectivity as our guide and goal stand out like someone wearing a suit at a Metallica concert.Some journalism schools and textbooksdon t mention objectivity any longer, except as a topic in an editorialproblems seminar.

In 1996, the Society of Professional Journalists, withoutfanfare, dropped the term from its code of ethics.The fact that some reporters permit superficialhe-said she-said reporting to define objectivityspawns much of today s criticism.In 2003, Brent Cunningham, managing editor ofColumbiaJournalism Review, wrote in an article, Re-thinkingObjectivity, that our devotion to what we call objectivity played a role inour failure to cover some of the Bush administration s shortcomings.

S.J. Berry NiemanReports, summer 2005 .The quotes from S. J. Berry s article show theattitude to journalistic objectivity in the West nowadays.From thesestatements a reader can conclude that the term journalistic objectivityis loosing its importance in the West.There are two generaltheories about the journalistic objectivity J. C. Merrill stated that journalistic objectivity is not possible , E. E. Dennis stated that journalistic objectivity is possible.

Merrill s theory is based onpsychological difference among people Objectivity may be a worthy goal, butit is unrealizable certainly in regard to the press. In no way can a journalistbe detached, unprejudiced, unopinionated, unbiased,and omniscient. Journalists are subjectivists, personally conditioned, and areable to provide audiences no more than superficial maps of real territory.E. E. Dennis, J. C. Merrill Media debates Great issues for theDigital Age p. 125 E. E. Dennis based histheory on some rules that, in his opinion, are rules of objective writing 1. Separating fact fromopinion2. Presenting anemotionally detached view of the news3.Striving for fairness and balance, giving both sides an opportunity to reply ina way that provides full informationto the audience.

E. E. Dennis, J. C. Merrill Media debates Great issues for theDigital Age p. 126 I have conducted aresearch whether the main Kyrgyzstan smass-media are objective.The main criteria of this research were two aspectsthat were mentioned by Dennis the absence of emotions and the absence ofopinions.

I have looked through the issues of four main newspapers Slovo Kyrgyzstana, Vechernii Bishkek, Argumenti i facti,and KP for a period of threemonths.According to my analysis, only ten percent of articlesin the issues of mentioned newspapers suite to the term objective article.The other ninetypercent of articles were opinionated,full of emotions, or contained only one side of conflict. 2. JournalisticEthicsThe first person who invented thejournalism ethics was Niccolo Machiavelli.

Here is his code of ethics called Ten Commandment for journalists Have no gods but the God of success. Create, however, false gods in order to make the people think they are sharing in your power. Always advocate Truth- your Truth, stemming from your power and your purpose.Never tamper with the Truth unless such tampering will enhance your authority and power, accomplish your purposes, and assure public conformity and stability.

Recognize that Justice is the handmaiden Truth in minds of the people so proclaim both constantly. Recognize that the people prize Power even more than the concepts of Truth and Justice, and act accordingly. Recognize that Journalism is really beyond ethics and that you are not accountable to anybody or anything except Market forces and your own consciences. Never commit plagiarism, except if adequate camouflaging is possible.Obey laws and common morality except if they interfere with your objective. Never admit a moral or legal transgression.

David Arant, EthicsIssues, and Controversies in Mass Media, 1997, p.20 It is possible to conclude that the first journalism code of ethics wassubjective and doubtful. The author reflected his own position in his code ofethics.In the 19th and early 20th centuries, manynewspaper reporters and editors saw nothing wrong with accepting gifts.Thegifts took various forms, but the most common were free passes for concerts,sporting events, and the railroad.

A few editors of the era, most notably Lucius Nieman of the MilwaukeeJournal, criticized the pass system , as it known.However, only a national scandal made journalists revise their ethicalprinciples. It was in 1920s during the Teapot Domescandal. Teapot Dome was a federally owned oilreserve that provided Navy with the oil. This oil reserve was given to privatedevelopers without competitive bidding.In order to ensure employees andmembers what ethical principles they should follow, mass-media created codes ofethics.

In 1923 the American Society of Newspaper Editors created code ofethics, and three years later one of the members of this Society was imprisonedfor part in Teapot scandal. The Watergate scandal created a new wave of newcodes of ethics.The Society of Professional Journalists adopted the code ofethics in 1973, the Associated Press Managing Editors in 1973.Nowadays journalism codes of ethics are divided into two groups codeswritten by nationally recognized professional organizations the Society ofProfessional Journalists, the American Society of Newspaper Editors, theRadio-Television News Direction Association, the National Association of PressPhotographers, and the Public Relations Society of America , and codes writtenby individual media organizations newspapers and broadcasting networks .All codes of ethics share several themes accuracy, fairness,objectivity, truthfulness, and respect.

However, there is no a journalism codeof ethics worldwide approved, that s why there is an opinion that eachjournalist has his own code of ethics, which differ from other person s code ofethics.3. TheConclusionBoth objectivity and ethics arepersonal and subjective things.

Each journalist or scholar defines these termsin different ways because of psychological differences among people.Nowadays, objectivity is losingpower in the west media, because of market forces, because of changes insociety s interests.

Media and journalists are trying to survive on mediamarket and try to do it in any way, even oppressing some moral concepts ofprofession.Ethics is a very personal term. Eachperson defines it in his own way. Maybe because of it there is no worldwideaccepted code of ethics that suits to any journalist.References Chang, F. 1998 Thedefinition of ObjectivityRaphael, C. 2003 ObjectivityBerry, S. J. 2005 Why the objectivity still matters? Arant,D. 1997 Ethics Issues, and Controversies in Mass Media Dennis,E. E. and Merrill, J. C. 1997 Media debates Great issuesfor the Digital Age Rosen, J. 1995 Beyond objectivity Hanney,J. 1867 Haney sGuide to Authorship.