Teaching Fairness in Journalism

What is it about?

Objectivity has long been contentious in American journalism. Many practitioners call it essential to a news organization’s credibility. Critics, however, hold objectivity is impossible and urge reporters simply to reveal their biases. For educators, teaching objectivity is challenging. Some, seeking a middle ground, instead urge fairness and balance, or counsel “impartiality.” Even such approaches are challenging. This article explores the difficulties, based on a study where students were lectured on fairness, balance, objectivity, and bias. They wrote news stories before and after the lessons. Evaluators found no substantial improvement in fairness and increased bias, however, pointing up the difficulties involved.

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Why is it important?

Objectivity and fairness are under assault these days. As the economics of media have become stressed, many outlets have turned to opinionated approaches, deserting the basic canons of even-handedness and thoroughness that marked journalism in earlier decades. Teaching students to be impartial and fair is challenging but essential if the public is ever to regain its trust in media.

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