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naraburns  nihil supernum  1yr ago (text post)   32930 thread views

Culture War Roundup for the week of October 10, 2022

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This is idiotic, because there are going to be people who synthesize the materials and present themselves as objective journalists. Both sides would do it and nothing changes.

I think you're too quick to criticize this. Those "Objective Journalists" will at least be required to take some kind of criticism to maintain that moniker, it may be the only path back to journalism that doesn't include advocacy in its mission statement. Most of the hack activists masquerading as journalists won't be able to hold back the venom long enough to affirm that there are two legitimate sides worth being objective about. Those that do will feel pressure to moderate lest they get labeled non-objective.

Those "Objective Journalists" will at least be required to take some kind of criticism to maintain that moniker

From who, the Journalism Credentialing Board? No, trust in journalism is an entirely subjective business, heavily influenced by the partisan lean of the viewer.

Those "Objective Journalists" will at least be required to take some kind of criticism to maintain that moniker, it may be the only path back to journalism that doesn't include advocacy in its mission statement.

The good ones will, but we already live in an environment where they have to do that in the first place if they want to be trusted. The likes of Scott Alexander exist in this reality and in Pushaw's hypothetical just as easily.

Secondly, people are already willing to believe whatever CNN or Fox tells them as objective truth. That doesn't change in Pushaw's world either. You suggest that someone like, say, Taylor Lorenz won't be considered an objective journalist, but I'd ask you if that's the reasonable consensus in this reality either.

People in general are not interested in learning what might be true when it comes to the news, but they want to be affirmed in their viewpoint. The only time they might adjust is if the journalist too strongly conflicts with other trusted sources.

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