The importance of Objectivity

Philip Meyer is a Knight Professor at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of North Carolina.  He defines Objectivity as standing so far from the community that you see all events and all viewpoints as equally distant and important or unimportant.  It is implemented by giving equal weight to all viewpoints and assertions.  The result is a laying out of facts in a sterile, noncommittal manner, and then standing back to let the reader decide which view is true.  

Objectivity helps journalists stay detached from the people and events that they are covering.  As discussed previously the purpose of journalism is to provide the citizens with enough information to make their own opinions and decisions.   If a journalist gets too involved in a story and begins to take a side then that is not supplying the citizens with the proper information to make the decision for themselves.  

Objectivity is a very important part of journalism.  It can be hard to achieve but is worth it in the end to achieve the purpose of journalism.  It provides a framework for journalists to function ethically because it gives citizens fair, accurate information without being too one-sided.    


http://www.unc.edu/~pmeyer/ire95pj.htm

motivation to be a journalist

I've always enjoyed knowing what is happening around me.  Whether it be in the paper or on the news, I have always liked to be aware of what's going on locally and in the world.  I've also always enjoyed reading and writing, being a journalists you are able to do both of those a lot.  I think good journalism is really important.  It's important to be honest and inform the public with enough information so that they able to make their own judgments and decisions based on the information.

At first I was interested in writing for a magazine or for a paper.  However, this last semester I've become more interested in broadcast journalism.  I've always enjoyed watching the news growing up and I've always been curious as to how the newsroom works.  I'd like to be involved in the news room and to be able to report on issues and events.  I didn't realize how much writing is involved with broadcast journalism.  I thought that reporters just simply reported but they also write as well as report.  I think I would enjoy the balance of writing and being on camera reporting.

http://www.poynter.org/uncategorized/27244/tips-for-getting-started-in-broadcast-journalism/

The flip-flop...Really?

The podiatric dangers of flip-flops

By Rachel Saslow, Published: May 2, 2011 in the Washington Post

In this article Saslow points out the dangers of wearing flip-flops.  When I think about the dangers of flip-flops, I immediately think to my self what dangers could be associated with flip-flops?  I mean you could say that there are dangers of walking around with or without shoes on.  The fact that flip-flops are posed to be dangerous to people is completely ridiculous and blown out of proportion.

"A few years ago, he broke his right big toe after slamming his foot into a rock while hiking in New Hampshire in his favorite summertime footwear."

Seriously?  Anyone who makes the decision to go hiking in flip-flops is already putting themselves at risk.  This individual refers to flip-flops as his favorite summertime footwear.  Flip flops leave your whole foot exposed except for the sole.  Obviously going hiking in flip-flops is going to have risks for your feet, ankles, etc...  If you hurt yourself while hiking in flip-flops I feel like it's your fault, not the flip-flops.  This individual put himself in danger, the flip-flops didn't contribute to him being in any sort of danger.  

"Flip-flops also leave the feet unprotected and exposed to the elements, which can mean cold toes, sunburns, cuts and bruises."

I feel like these facts are so blatant and obvious there is no point of even using them.  I mean if you wear flip-flops it's common sense that your feet are going to be unprotected and exposed to the elements.  It's not like some new information about the product has been released that no one has known about.  

In my opinion the fact that this story was actually published in the Washington Post is ridiculous. However being that it was published, I would recommend the author to not categorize the flip-flop as dangerous.  The author could rather write an article about what activities are appropriate while wearing the flip-flop.  The author could also write about how much time your feet should be spent wearing flip-flops on a day or week basis.  

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health/the-podiatric-dangers-of-flip-flops/2011/03/22/AFCNVobF_story.html