new journalism WAS Re: Wolfe

Doug Millison millison at online-journalist.com
Fri Jun 9 11:20:58 CDT 2000


The idea that journalism is somehow supposed to present "objective truth"
represents at best a naive understanding of what journalists actually do;
usually this concept is used as a club by people who don't like what they
read in the newspapers (or hear on broadcast news, etc.) and who seek to
discredit one journalist (or publication) at the expense of another.  If
scientists and mathematicians can't, finally, nail it ("objective truth")
down, how could mere reporters, writers, editors? Journalists conduct
research,  choose the facts and quotes they wish to highlight, and assemble
them into stories, which, of necessity, reflect the perspective (whether
openly acknowledged or not) of the reporters, writers, and editors
involved. How we create stories and use them to create and navigate the
world is, it seems to me, a matter of some importance to TRP, as reflected
in GR, M&D, and the rest of his writings.

d  o  u  g    m  i  l  l  i  s  o  n  <http://www.online-journalist.com>



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