Rethinking Objectivity in News Reporting in the Digital Age

Akpan, Church S and Anorue, Luke Ifeanyi and Obayi, Paul Martins and Chima, Onyebuchi Alexander and Anorue, Uchenna (2012) Rethinking Objectivity in News Reporting in the Digital Age. Journal of Alternative Perspectives in the Social Sciences, 4 (4). pp. 711-729.

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Abstract

This paper examines the place of news objectivity in online news reporting. It argues that the Internet is a strong communication avenue in this age of digital communication which allows for an instantaneous posting of news messages online. It maintains that the Internet gives room for journalists to write as much stories as possible and meet the yearnings of the people. The study aims at finding out whether online versions of news stories are objective and to find out the effect of lack of news objectivity on online news reporting. In order to drive home the argument of the study, the social responsibility theory of the media was employed. Using survey research design, the researchers were able to sample the opinions of respondents. It was, however, revealed that most online news stories are not objectively reported. Based on this finding, the researchers recommended that scholars and media professionals should re-examine the whole essence of news objectivity and propose a better definition that can encapsulate the issue of news objectivity or better still re-examine the profession to see if the concept “news objectivity” can be removed from the code of the profession, so as to protect the dignity of journalism.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
Divisions: Faculty of Management and Social Sciences
Depositing User: mrs chioma hannah
Date Deposited: 29 Sep 2019 12:38
Last Modified: 29 Sep 2019 12:38
URI: http://eprints.gouni.edu.ng/id/eprint/2204

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