Letters to the Editor

Observations about John Harris' replies Glenn Greenwald [2007-03-30]

• "objective" journalism is part of the problem

  Part of the problem with journalism these days is that journalists are taught they have to be "objective". They can't express an opinion themselves, even when the facts of the situation are beyond doubt. This is even expanded to exclude any analysis. This is how journalism is taught. Which leads to the situation we have now, journalism as stenography. It ends up in a he said she said reliance on official sources. Not the reporters assessment of what folks are saying, just WHAT they say. Leaving it up to readers to try and make sense of it, often with little understanding of the context.

  Reliance on official sources. It didn't matter that hundreds of thousands of US citizens KNEW Bush's case for war was bogus. No one in Congress was saying it and so nothing appeared in print.

  The problem is not that reporters are partisan. They are human and have opinions. I want more opinionated journalism. The real problem is that while it is totally subjective, the MSM maintains the facade of objectivity. The illusion of objectivity.

  Mark Hertzgaard formerly of the NY Times wrote a very illuminating treatment of this subject. "On Bended Knee: The Press and the Reagan Presidency". Some fifteen years old but still very timely

  -- Jim Senter
  [Read Jim Senter's other letters]
  Permalink Flag Friday, March 30, 2007 10:42 AM
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