Can a journalist ever truly be objective? And, if not, what are they to do instead?
This article about journalistic objectivity is written by Vanessa Chiasson, a freelance writer based in Ottawa who specializes in travel and human interest stories.
Can a journalist ever truly be objective?
This question was at the heart of the annual Power and the Press lecture from the Canadian Journalism Foundation, held in May at Toronto’s Massey College (and available online via CPAC). I attended the lecture in person as I was hugely interested in what the keynote speaker, legendary American editor Marty Baron, had to say about the state of our industry.
Baron was most recently the editor-in-chief at the Washington Post, an experience he shares in his new book Collision of Power: Trump, Bezos, and The Washington Post.
You may also recognize his name from the movie Spotlight. Baron held the top job at the Boston Globe during their landmark investigation of child abuse in the Catholic church.
As such, he is no stranger to having to make difficult decisions. Baron spoke passionately about the importance of objectivity, emphasising that journalists should never cease seeking it, even if perfect objectivity is impossible. More controversially, he also spoke about what he sees as the inherent conflict between being an activist and a journalist, citing both as important but reinforcing his belief that they should be separate roles. It’s interesting food for thought but where do freelancers fit in?
Baron’s editorial experience is unparalleled, but he has precious little experience as a freelancer. We exist as teams of one, with no copy editors, section editors, or editors-in-chief in the next office to temper our opinions and encourage multiple avenues of investigation. True, many of us report to editors via whatever publication we happen to be on assignment for at the moment. Their guidance is invaluable but it’s a much different relationship than a newsroom where you are supported by a broad team. When it comes to objectivity, we’re often on our own.
While Baron might advocate a separation of journalism and activism, freelancers rarely have the luxury of separating our personal and professional lives. We are encouraged to write about what we know. Editors put out calls for pitches that specifically target journalists with in-depth, lived experience in certain subjects. Read any advice for landing pitches and you’ll be encouraged to find an angle that puts you, the writer, front and centre. Write personal essays to shore up your bylines. Research-based work isn’t enough.
In some newsrooms, this tricky balance might work. Perhaps it’s the way things ought to work. End parachute journalism. Have people close to stories report on them—and rely on colleagues and editors to help you navigate the tricky dance of objectivity. But what can a freelancer do? Who will tell us we’re getting too close to a story or a source? Who will point out the gaping holes that we cannot see? And—let’s face it—how can we afford to be objective when time is money and publishers are routinely offering $200 an article or less?
Baron didn’t offer any advice for freelancers (which, to be fair, he wasn’t explicitly asked about, but perhaps you shouldn’t have to be asked about it when the number of freelancers is rising exponentially as newsrooms shutter at an alarming rate.) However, in a funny twist, his advice may prove helpful for freelancers.
Objectivity advice for freelancers
We can’t be perfectly objective. No journalist can. But we can sure try.
Here are some considerations for a freelancer who strives for objectivity in such challenging conditions.
- Set up your relationships for success. If you want to cultivate a meaningful relationship with an editor, keep them updated on your progress and solicit feedback as you go. Hand in your drafts early so they aren’t pressed for time and can edit more thoughtfully
- Connect with a trusted colleague. Swap drafts with someone you like and trust but who isn’t a carbon copy of your background and demographics. What does your city centre friend think is missing from your rural affairs report?
- Record and transcribe your interviews. With your source’s permission, record your interviews with a program like Otter.ai, which transcribes as you go. We can often only use a small portion of the material we gather, and plenty of rich, insightful quotes go unused. That material can be used on future pieces without the time commitment of additional interviews, leading to more robust, balanced work.
- Read and listen to diverse material. Put a call out with friends for recommendations on what you should consume. Can they suggest content that gets them thinking? Nuanced, well-researched material is often overlooked in an age of inflammatory talking heads, but it’s out there
