The Myth of Objectivity
INTERVIEW ON THE PRICE OF BUSINESS SHOW, MEDIA PARTNER OF THIS SITE.
Recently Kevin Price, Host of the nationally syndicated Price of Business Show, interviewed David Dozier who is a leading media authority.
Let’s start by declaring a simple truth about journalism: There is no such thing as objectivity. In an earlier segment, we discussed the emergence of “objectivity” with the wire services in the late 1800s. In the late 1900s, journalism academics came up with the idea of “socially responsible” journalism to preserve the illusion of “objectivity” in one-newspaper cities. We believe the literate digital news consumer must look at news with a critical eye. As news consumers, we all have confirmation biases. That’s the tendency to regard new information as “more true” when it fits with our prior beliefs. We treat new information with suspicion when it runs counter to our beliefs. Journalists and editors also suffer from confirmation bias. We know from the 2023 Fox News-Dominion lawsuit that some news organizations actually spread disinformation that they know is false to keep their customers satisfied. Beat reporters develop long-term relationships with news sources (often PR practitioners). Reporters come to see their beat through the eyes of these sources. And let’s be clear. PR practitioners always have an agenda. They push a particular take on the facts. “Best practices” suggest that PR practitioners should never lie. But they often withhold facts damaging to their organizations. See DavidDozierBooks.com.
The Price of Business is one of the longest running shows of its kind in the country and is in markets coast to coast. The Host, Kevin Price, is a multi-award winning author, broadcast journalist, and syndicated columnist. He is Editor at Large for this site. Learn more about the show and its digital partners at www.PriceofBusiness.com.
David Dozier (DavidDozierBooks.com) is the author of the novel, The California Killing Field. He is a professor emeritus in the School of Journalism & Media Studies, San Diego State University. He’s an internationally recognized expert on communication management and public relations.
According to USA Business Radio, “David Dozier is a scholar of public relations and communication management, professor emeritus in the School of Journalism & Media Studies at San Diego State University, and author of The California Killing Field. He says fake news has become a phenomenon, political campaigns use the tactic to influence voters, and that it’s perplexing that a conspiracy-based group such as QAnon has gained national attention.
Kevin Price and David Dozier are doing a multi-part series on this important topic that will be on many different platforms, as well as on radio. Keep an eye out for the series throughout the Price of Business Digital Network and USA Business Radio.
Check out more national news stories here.
LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW IN ITS ENTIRETY HERE
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