The invention of journalism ethics : the path to objectivity and beyond / Stephen J.A. Ward.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Ward, Stephen J. A. (Stephen John Anthony), 1951-

Series:

McGill-Queen's studies in the history of ideas ; 38.

McGill-Queen's studies in the history of ideas ; 38

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Journalistic ethics.

Journalism--Objectivity.

Journalism.

Objectivity.

Physical Description:

1 electronic text (xii, 360 p.) : digital file.

Edition:

1st pbk. ed.

Place of Publication:

Montreal ; Ithaca : McGill-Queen's University Press, c2004.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Does objectivity in the news media exist? In The Invention of Journalism Ethics Stephen Ward argues that, given the current emphasis on interpretation, analysis, and perspective, journalists and the public need a new theory of objectivity. He explores the varied ethical assertions of journalists over the past few centuries, focusing on the changing relationship between journalist and audience. This historical analysis leads to an innovative theory of pragmatic objectivity that enables journalists and the public to recognize and avoid biased and unbalanced reporting. Ward convincingly demonstrates that journalistic objectivity is not a set of absolute standards but the same fallible but reasonable objectivity used for making decisions in other professions and public institutions.

Contents:

Introduction : reinventing journalism ethics

Objectivity : senses and origins

Objectivity : ancient, early modern, positivist

The invention of journalism ethics : the seventeenth century

The invention of a public ethic : the eighteenth century

Anticipating objectivity : the nineteenth century

Objectivity and after : the twentieth century

Pragmatic objectivity

Epilogue : the future of objectivity.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1-282-86683-4

9786612866838

0-7735-7638-X

OCLC:

923234581