Completely neutral reporting does not exist in journalism. While many media outlets strive to be as objective as possible, they still often adopt the language of power. What is this about? Isabel Awad, associate professor of Media and Communication at ESHCC, explains in an interview with magazine and journalism website ‘OneWorld’ how journalists operate and avoid responsibility.
Journalists follow certain routines by which they often present their interpretation as fact. For example, by writing detached and contrasting different (often conflicting) opinions. According to Awad, journalists thereby distance themselves from their story: ‘it was my source who said that, not me’ and then the reader gets to decide what is true. ‘These routines journalists follow to make their work doable and protect themselves from the claim that they are taking a stand.’
Elite sources
As a result, falsehoods from politics get a stage in the media, and journalists do not always take the time to check them. ‘Objective’ journalism wants to create a level playing field where everyone can have their say and the journalist himself plays no role. But in practice, different sources are treated anything but equally because journalism relies on what could be called institutional sources, or elite sources, based on the idea that, if newsworthiness is an important criterion, some people are more important than others.
Awad calls it a conservative mechanism. ‘Because if you prioritise sources with power, you increase that power. And if you don't treat sources without power as legitimate sources, you reinforce that unequal relationship.’
Complexity as an excuse
We see this problem now, for example, in the reporting surrounding the genocide in Gaza. ‘Palestinian sources are ignored, or at best juxtaposed as opinions against those of Israel. Western journalists no longer look for the truth, claiming that the story is ‘too complex’.’ Appealing to the ‘complexity’ of a subject is another way journalists avoid their responsibility, Awad believes. ‘While their job is precisely to investigate complex stories and make them understandable to the general public.’
Responsibility
According to Awad, journalists should and can decide for themselves who deserves a vote and why. ‘I am also sure many journalists want to work differently,’ she stresses. ‘And sometimes they succeed. But that also requires more resources, courage, time and participation - something many journalists don't have.’
Read the full article on OneWorld (in Dutch)
Besides Isabel Awad, Marcel Broersma (professor of Media and Journalism Studies at the University of Groningen) was also interviewed for the article on OneWorld.
- Associate professor
