Impartiality

Posted by Word Camel on May 07, 2003

In Reply to: Impartiality posted by Mei on May 07, 2003

: Hi,

: Could anyone help me with the bracketed sentences?

:
: Impartiality demanded of journalists that they distinguish facts from values if their respective newspaper was to be recognized as a free arbiter of truth. As many of these journalists quickly discovered, however, (such a commitment to value free reporting frequently had disturbing implications in professional terms). Specially, many of the most passionate advocates of objective journalism were the very editors and publishers intent on opposing the unionization of their newspapers. (From this self-serving perspective, a journalist could hardly be a dispassionate, not-partisan observer while, at the same time, belonging to such a controversial organization as a union.)

: Thanks a lot.

: Mei

"...such a commitment to value free reporting frequently had disturbing implications in professional terms".

This means that journalists who were dedicated to reporting the news in a balanced and neutral way found that there were certain events they were asked to report on where they found it wasn't in their own interests to present a balanced view.

The second sentence you bracketed uses the example of journalists' attempts to unionise as an example of a time when it was very difficult for them to remain neutral since they were in conflict with the very editors they were writing neutral an dispassionate reports for.