jcast's Journal: Journalism

I think the idea journalists have been defending when they talk about ``objective [sic] journalism'' is what I am tentatively calling ``factoid journalism''. That is, they simply want us to know the events, the facts, etc. This does not square with ``speaking truth to power''; I leave resolving that discrepancy as an exercise for the reader.

In any case, for the media to report the number of casualties in Iraq, the unemployment rate, the latest polls, etc. is these days ultimately useless as an exercise in itself. Such facts are much better posted online, where they can be googled for. The only reason to cite such things elsewhere is in support of some argument; otherwise, it's just pointless verbage. So, even if the media could transform itself into the vast bastion of facts, it would still be wasting its government-granted television monopoly.