Objectivity as Strategic Ritual: An Examination of Newsmen's Notions of Objectivity

TLDR

Newspapermen believe that claiming objectivity helps them mitigate pressures such as deadlines, libel suits, and reprimands, and they may do so by quoting others rather than expressing personal opinions. The article investigates how newsmen define objective facts through form, content, and interorganizational relationships, and questions whether other professions employ the term similarly. The study finds that while newsmen can only invoke their judgment regarding content and relationships, they can claim objectivity by citing formal procedures, and that objectivity functions as a strategic ritual protecting them from trade risks.

Abstract

The newspapermen studied believe they may mitigate such continual pressures as deadlines, possible libel suits, and anticipated reprimands of superiors by being able to claim that their work is "objective." This article examines three factors which help a newsman to define an "objective fact": form, content, and interorganizational relationships. It shows that in discussing content and interorganizational relationships, the newsman can only invoke his news judgment; however, he can claim objectivity by citing procedures he has followed which exemplify the formal attributes of a news history or a newspaper. For instance, the newsman can suggest that he quoted other people instead of offering his own opinions. The article suggests that "objectivity" may be seen as a strategic ritual protecting newspapermen from the risks of their trade. It asks whether other professions might not also use the term "objectivity" in the same way.