Comments for David M. Bresnahan http://bresnahan.org "Want to enjoy the view? Climb the mountain!" Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:38:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Comment on Chris Hedges is Wrong – Objectivity Makes Journalism Better, Not Worse by David Bresnahan http://bresnahan.org/archives/120#comment-3 David Bresnahan Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:38:01 +0000 http://columninch.wordpress.com/?p=120#comment-3 Well said! I agree with your very good points. Thank you for making them. Well said! I agree with your very good points. Thank you for making them.

]]> Comment on Chris Hedges is Wrong – Objectivity Makes Journalism Better, Not Worse by ossurynot http://bresnahan.org/archives/120#comment-2 ossurynot Tue, 23 Feb 2010 18:22:36 +0000 http://columninch.wordpress.com/?p=120#comment-2 The only objection I can make, because I fundamentally agree with you, is that one of the things journalism has lost is rational objectivity. While the global warming "debate" is the most salient example, it happens all the time. We feel as if we have to find an "alternate view" if we're to be objective and as a result are too often quasi-PR machines. Another (related) difficulty has to do with the fact people know there are reporters in the room. I try to be objective in my coverage, but I'm also careful not to report obvious inflammatory rhetoric. People who do not attend events but count on me to tell them what happened aren't looking for my opinion, per se, but they do trust me to distill the event. It's a mistake to report what happened when what happened is irresponsible to report. The only objection I can make, because I fundamentally agree with you, is that one of the things journalism has lost is rational objectivity. While the global warming “debate” is the most salient example, it happens all the time. We feel as if we have to find an “alternate view” if we’re to be objective and as a result are too often quasi-PR machines.
Another (related) difficulty has to do with the fact people know there are reporters in the room. I try to be objective in my coverage, but I’m also careful not to report obvious inflammatory rhetoric.
People who do not attend events but count on me to tell them what happened aren’t looking for my opinion, per se, but they do trust me to distill the event. It’s a mistake to report what happened when what happened is irresponsible to report.

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