The Reversal of Objectivity (and other principles of journalism)

The Blog | Andrew Gumbel: What Did We Know About Bob Woodward? And When Did We Know It? | The Huffington Post

How interesting that Bob Woodward, the shining example of American journalism, has become a key Bush supporter of late. Of course he would reject such a characterization, on the basis that his reporting is "objective". We report, you decide. Objectivity has reversed. Objectivity used to mean reporting the facts-- now it means choosing not to connect the dots if it forms a picture that is unfavourable to those in power. 30 years ago Bob Woodward dug up facts to paint a picture that brought down a president. Today he ignores the obvious to prop one up.

What this shows us is not that Woodward sold out, but that he never ought to have been put on a pedestal in the first place. Dividing reporters into good guys and bad guys is a mistake. We were wrong to place so much faith in the principle of objectivity- it is quite clear that everything is ultimately subjective, from the decision of what story to write to how the story is framed. Each of these decisions are informed by political biases, and even Bob Woodward is subject to bias.

Also interesting is that another principle of journalism is undergoing a reversal - the protection of anonymous sources. Like Bob Woodward waving the flag of objectivity, Judy Miller drapes herself in the principle of anonymous sourcing as if it weren't completely obvious that she is perverting the concept 180 degrees.