The Guardian, is no longer posting on X saying the platform is "toxic," mentioning an increase in disturbing content on the site.
Dear Mr. Palm, first thank you for your service! I have a habit of reading your column to see how far off-base you are.
Today, I feel compelled to respond. You speak of "New" journalism and note it was "not objective but subjective." The reporter becomes as you said "a participant in or at least a firsthand judgmental witness to what he or she is reporting on." Objectivity goes by the wayside.
At the same time, gonzo journalism also became popular. That reporting blended truth with creative writing or fiction. Two of the most infamous reporters who failed readers by following new journalism include Jayson Blair of the New York Times and Stephen Glass of the New Republic. Both fabricated dozens of stories causing the publications to apologize to readers and promise to do better. The Tet Offensive that you spoke about did change the course of history as truth was brought to light but when subjectivity overrides objectivity without truth, the reader loses.
The legacy media is doing self-introspection on what it could have done differently to influence the election. Perhaps what it should have done was to place the pursuit of truth as the key objective in reporting and not worry about influencing the election. You said, "The canon of journalistic objectivity aside, there comes a time when we have to take sides if we are to remain human?" I say there is no time of set objectivity aside. Accuracy and the pursuit of it is the key goal of journalism.
You say our "constitutional liberties will soon be going by the board." If we throw out truth and objective behavior, I agree with you. The weaponization of political power is to be feared. Look at the headlines involving a FEMA employee telling subordinates to not service homes damaged by a hurricane if a Trump sign was on the property. This is not acceptable from either side of the political fence.
As Thomas Jefferson wrote so long ago, "For a nation that is afraid to let it's people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people."
Take heart Mr. Palm, democracy will outlast us.
DEBORAH HUFF
Forest
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