Wednesday, October 20, 2004
The journey for truth continues...
ABC news anchor Peter Jennings said the media will never be completely objective.
(see story here)
"I'm a little concerned about this notion everybody wants us to be objective," Jennings said. He said that everyone -- even journalists -- have points of view through which they filter their perception of the news. It could be race, gender or income. But, he said, reporters are ideally trained to be as objective as possible.
"And when we don't think we can be fully objective, to be fair," the anchorman said.
What is fair? What is the standard for fair, and who sets it?
Obviously this is great fodder for a journey for truth. Some recent "comments" suggest I haven't been fair in my search for truth. That I tend to post anti-liberal articles and such. As I read through the news items of the day, I do get interested in a variety of news topics. I post some that are funny, some thought provoking, some politically stirring, and some to be pondered in the spiritual side of life.
Can news be objective? Can absolute truth be found on the evening news? Is there concrete absolute truth? How much does perspective, cultural experience, education, and upbringing have to do with perspective of thought?
Through the presidential debates we've experience how facts, numbers and stats can be truthful, yet manage to tell two different stories. How can a box of puzzle pieces be formed into multiple pictures? Who decides what is accurate, trustworthy, right, and just?
Today I post a lot of questions....very few answers.
But I do thank Peter Jennings for bringing to surface the fact that absolute objective reporting is impossible. And for that, we must always read with caution and careful analysis.
It's up to us, our brains, our guts, and our faith to sort out truth, perspective, opinion, and fantasy.
Truth seeking isn't for the apathetic.
let the truth B told... (I still believe it can...)
- T
(see story here)
"I'm a little concerned about this notion everybody wants us to be objective," Jennings said. He said that everyone -- even journalists -- have points of view through which they filter their perception of the news. It could be race, gender or income. But, he said, reporters are ideally trained to be as objective as possible.
"And when we don't think we can be fully objective, to be fair," the anchorman said.
What is fair? What is the standard for fair, and who sets it?
Obviously this is great fodder for a journey for truth. Some recent "comments" suggest I haven't been fair in my search for truth. That I tend to post anti-liberal articles and such. As I read through the news items of the day, I do get interested in a variety of news topics. I post some that are funny, some thought provoking, some politically stirring, and some to be pondered in the spiritual side of life.
Can news be objective? Can absolute truth be found on the evening news? Is there concrete absolute truth? How much does perspective, cultural experience, education, and upbringing have to do with perspective of thought?
Through the presidential debates we've experience how facts, numbers and stats can be truthful, yet manage to tell two different stories. How can a box of puzzle pieces be formed into multiple pictures? Who decides what is accurate, trustworthy, right, and just?
Today I post a lot of questions....very few answers.
But I do thank Peter Jennings for bringing to surface the fact that absolute objective reporting is impossible. And for that, we must always read with caution and careful analysis.
It's up to us, our brains, our guts, and our faith to sort out truth, perspective, opinion, and fantasy.
Truth seeking isn't for the apathetic.
let the truth B told... (I still believe it can...)
- T
