Objecting objectivity

I find it amusing, and sometimes perplexing, that some individuals would criticise me for not being objective, as if it is some cardinal sin.Well, consider me guilty as charged. But I shouldn't feel too terrible about myself though, because these people hold me to the same standards they give to mainstream newspapers like New York Times and Washington Post.

Maybe I should feel flattered instead.

But really, this is a blog, and I'm not even running a news blog here, so why should I be objective? I can be faulted if I claim to be objective, but this is not the case. I'll give one thousand Monopoly dollars to those who can find out when I said this. I'll delete it right away.

Maybe I'm labeled as such because I've previously called myself a "journalism student" on this blog. But please, even journalists have a life (as pathetic as they are). Reporters don't go around waving their voice recorders in the air and claiming to be objective in their off hours.

To prevent such unsavoury misunderstandings, I shall henceforth call myself a "media student". Yes, I'm officially part of the tabloids now.

But really, If you accuse me of not being objective, what really is objectivity to you then? Personally, I think objectivity is a sliding scale of impartiality. The more impartial you are, the more objective you will be. Objectivity, in journalism, is the art of not taking sides in an article. It is an attempt to give opposing sides equal weight.

But total objectivity is impossible. So I find it easy for someone to accuse a journalist of not being objective. It all depends on how the accuser defines objectivity really. Even a very balanced journalist can be accused of partiality. It is darn impossible for a journalist to be truly impartial, just like how Christians cannot be totally blameless.

Therefore, in light of the recent City Harvest saga, I find it hypocritical that Christians accuse the media of being biased, yet they fail to examine their own truth claims. I thought pastors and churches are the bastions of truth? Why is it that the church can get away with hyping things up while the media can't?

Take note: I'm not absolving the media of their responsibility as gatekeepers of information. I don't think their coverage of this incident has been spotless, but on the whole the mainstream English papers have been pretty fair.

And as for me, don't ever think that I am impartial. If for some reason you think I am, quit that thought. Now.

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Done? Good.

I have opinions. I have emotions (as hard as it is to believe). I am biased, and sometimes, I stereotype. Objectivity is something good to strive towards, but it can never be a total state of being. I can promise to examine both sides of an issue, I can be "fair and balanced" (as Fox News puts it), but I must make a judgment call at the end of the day. I must take sides.

In any case, this will be my final warning to anyone who dare accuse me of not being objective. Cross that line, and I'll be very biased against you.