stacy-essay

This essay was submitted on request by: Stacy-Ann Adams

Aggreypedia thanks you for your cooperation in spreading the goal of sustainable development that Professor Aggrey Brown envisioned.

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This world we call home is made up of diverse and creative beings with the brilliance and capability to access, shape, recall and produce information that is meaningful to others.

This information can either be delivered through a subjective mode or an objective mode.

The mode chosen is highly dependent on individuals and their view points. The moot “objectivity is a figment of the imagination” can be argued intelligently from both stand points, for and against as related to Caribbean media. On the 20th of September, 2011, Dervan Malcolm in an interview with the writer stated that, “Objectivity is recognizing and accepting "what is," without projecting our mental models, background, culture, experiences and responding thoughtfully, deliberately and effectively.” Therefore in this instance there is neutral ground on the path of the communicator.

Most communicators in media/ Journalism usually contextualize while separating themselves from the issues presented. The writer poses the questions, what is objectivity? What does the word figment refer to? According to the online Thesaurus dictionary objectivity means “impartiality, detachment, disinterested, dispassion, equality, equitableness, indifference, neutrality, open- mindedness.” In other words the writer is of the opinion that objectivity should permeate the entire Caribbean media and the world wide media at large so as to maintain professionalism. The word ‘figment’, according to the Collins student dictionary refers to “something nonexistent and only imagined by someone”. In addition to this the online Thesaurus notes that figment means “creation in one’s mind.”

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In support of the moot, it can be said that it is human nature to be bias since we were all socialized differently; meaning an individual acquires a personal identity and learns the norms, values, behavior, and social skills appropriate to his or her social position.

Hence, sometimes subjectivity creeps into media presentations and therefore colors the issues at hand. Take for example, a particular print house X is in great support of Party Y and so during coverage of that particular party, print house X portrays Party Y to be the ideal party of choice by creating a bias in its presentation of the party. In this presentation, the print house may therefore dictate a particular idea to capture its audience. Another example of subjective thinking is supported by Angela Bisasor, a writer, in The Gleaner article (2009), who wrote Persons in favour of the CCJ are understandably upset by the PM's pronouncement... One of the concerns about having a final court of appeal within proximity is the question of influence, especially in an environment which breeds corruption, as ours does.

Angela Bisasor used persuasive language to intrigue and capture her audience attention thereby aiding them to see her viewpoint by using words of emphasis such as; “as ours does� hereby gaining common ground with her audience. In addition to this, the writer is of the opinion that media personnel may accept bribes in order to color certain stories presented. Objectivity can also be lost when the piece is irrational, in other words the piece is not based on logical reasoning but by preference.

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Since socialization is a major factor in ones reasoning ability, it could be said that this may affect ones mode of presentation by limiting a particular perspective on the subject. The writer is of the opinion that the level of socialization may determine the level of objectivity and the perspective of what is truth versus what is fiction. This lack of objectivity then results in subjectivity. Objectivity is the opposite of subjectivity. A person who has a subjective viewpoint sees things only from their own position, complete with all biases. The problem with a subjective point of view is that it is invariably different from everyone else's perspective. Subjectivity, according to Dervan Malcolm, talk show host of Power 106 (2011), is “personal, irrational and passionate.” In this case, persons bring their feelings and emotions to the piece of work and therefore the audience is presented blurred information which may affect their attitude towards a particular subject. In a New York Times editorial, “Docudrama Strikes Again” (1985), the writer noted that “all storytelling involves some distortion.”

This can be supported using examples of certain articles in the Star were some stories are intentionally enhanced to entice the audience participation thereby increasing market production.

On the other hand, objectivity being not a figment of the imagination may be supported by the notion that information is presented as factual and not opinionated. In order words, information is usually supported by sound reasoning and logical thinking; which can be taking a position that is universally acceptable and backed by audience support. In addition to this, the argument can be tested/ tried and proven by both presenter and audience alike. Another point in opposition of the moot is declaring a bias which helps in

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audience awareness to allow the audience the right know where the journalist or presenter takes a particular stance on a specific view point. This helps the reader/ listener or viewer to make a decision for themselves based on the arguments for or against the moot or topic and hence maintains a level of fairness.

Objectivity then penetrates the unemotional state of mind which leads the media practitioner to be non agitated or distressed in anyway. The practitioner sees things as they really are and not just from a personal viewpoint, maintaining a neutral understanding of both points of view. An objective viewpoint is thus more realistic, balanced, fairer and far more likely to result in a unanimous agreement. According to Shirley Biagi in her book Media Impact, third edition, “ they (media practioners) will not mislead the public by presenting as spontaneous news any material which is staged or rehearsed… will clearly label opinion and commentary….promptly acknowledge and correct errors.”(p.340) She continued by stating that objective media practitioners “strive to conduct themselves in a manner that protects them from conflicts of interests real or perceived. They will decline gifts or favors which would influence or appear to influence their judgments.” (p.340)

Halshane Burke, Radio Journalist from Irie Fm (September 21, 2011) stated that, “Interpretation is not with the speaker, interpretation lies with the listener.” This interpretation he stipulates is connected to ones educational background. This gives rise to the audience also being apart of the objective process; the writer noted that the level of education and logical thinking heightens and enhances the awareness in viewer/listener

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participation and rational thinking and reasoning. Hence, in Caribbean media operations journalists and other media professionals are bombarded with arguments pertaining to how factual and concise their broadcasts and messages to the society are; from the educated audience.

In concluding the writer begs the questions. Is objectivity too much to expect from the Caribbean media? How can one divorce himself from the news at hand? A big attraction of an objective viewpoint is that it is neutral territory on which both people can meet. The neutrality of an objective view lets us both look from the same position.

Journalists may claim that their own biases and the pressures from advertisers and media owners do not affect their work because of their professional norm of 'objectivity'. In addition, as human beings we think differently and so will perceive things in a different dimension from others, hence, viewer interpretation also plays a vital role in objective thinking; thereby refuting the moot “Objectivity is a figment of the imagination.�

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REFERENCE

1.

Schudson, Michael (1978). Discovering the News: A social history of American newspapers. ISBN 978-0465016662.

2.

Lynch, J. & McGoldrick, A. (2005). Peace Journalism. Gloucestershire: Hawthorn Press, p.203

3.

Lynch,J. (2008). Debates in Peace Journalism. Sydney: Sydney University Press, p.7 Mindich, David T. Z. 1998. Just the Facts: How “Objectivity” Came to

4.

Define American Journalism. New York: New York University Press.

5.

Schudson, Michael. 1978. Discovering the News: A Social History of American Newspapers. New York: Basic Books.

6.

Schudson, Michael. 1997. "The Sociology of News Production." In Social Meaning of News: A Text-Reader. Dan Berkowitz, ed. Pp. 7–22. Thousand Oaks: Sage.

7.

Chomsky, Noam (2002). Media control. Seven Stories Press.

8.

Biaga, Shirley (1996). Media Impact third edition. Published:Wadsworth Publishing Company.

9.

Maxwell, John (2000). How To Make Our Own News: A Primer for Environmentalists and Journalists. Canoe Press University of the West Indies.

10.

Manoff, R. K. & Schudson, M. (1986). Redaing the News: a Pantheon Guide to Popular Culture. Published: Pantheon Books New York.

11.

Angela Bisasor (2009). The Perception of Justice. Article Published: The Gleaner.

12.

Bagdikian, Ben H. (1983). The Media Monopoly. http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Media/DemoMedia_Bagdikian.html.

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