Which of the following statements best characterizes the traditional news media's relationship to objectivity?
A)Given that completely objective reporting is unattainable because people inevitably have biases that shape their understanding of events, journalists do not attempt to be objective and report only one side of a story.
B)Although completely objective reporting is unattainable because people inevitably have biases that shape their understanding of events, journalists attempt to be objective by reporting both sides of a story.
C)Journalists are trained to be objective in their reporting, so their personal biases rarely matter and their coverage of events almost always succeeds in objectively presenting both sides of a story.
D)The Federal Communications Commission requires that all journalists sign a "pledge of objectivity" before being employed at a media company.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The traditional news media's relationship to objectivity is one in which they acknowledge that completely objective reporting is unattainable due to people's inherent biases. However, journalists attempt to be objective by covering both sides of a story, presenting facts and avoiding personal opinions as much as possible. This is reflected in the ethical codes and standards that most news organizations adhere to. Option A is incorrect because it suggests that journalists do not attempt to be objective, which is not true. Option C is also incorrect because while journalists are trained to be objective, it does not mean that their personal biases rarely matter. Option D is incorrect because the Federal Communications Commission does not require journalists to sign a "pledge of objectivity."

Which of the Following Statements Best Characterizes the Traditional News