By Samantha Freeman
During my freshman year of high school, my phone dinged, notifying me of yet another school shooting, this time, at Parkland High School. Florida students, like me, went to school thinking it was just another day of back-to-back classes filled with lectures and notetaking. Instead, they were confronted with the most traumatic day of their lives.
I grew up knowing that my school could be next, and, as a result, I have a very strong opinion about gun laws. Now, as a journalism student, I am confronted with the question, can journalists be activists, too?
Efforts to maintain objectivity
Since the beginning of news media, the expectation has been that journalists remain neutral, both in the office and outside the newsroom. Many news organizations continue to uphold this value. In 2021, a young reporter, Emily Wilder, was fired from the Associated Press for her Pro-Palestinian views on social media during her college career. After joining the AP, Wilder retweeted posts that appeared sympathetic to Palestinians in the Gaza conflict. The AP viewed this as a violation of their ethics code and fired her.
In Gaza, thousands of Palestinians are dying. Several U.S. states are restricting reproductive rights after the overturning of Roe v Wade in 2022. Children too often go to school never to return home. Several of the issues facing our world today are not political issues as much as they are human rights violations. As journalists, it is our job to cover these topics fairly, but as humans, it is our right to fight for freedom and equality.
Can journalists do both?
Some news organizations are beginning to make a distinction between political and human rights issues. NPR updated their ethics policy in 2021 to allow journalists to participate in activities that advocate for “the freedom and dignity of human beings.” Participation can include marches, rallies, and public events demanding equal and fair treatment of people. However, rallies in support of specific legislation or political candidates are off-limits. This allows journalists to advocate for human rights while remaining distanced from political engagement.
The editor-in-chief at BuzzFeed, Ben Smith, had a similar perspective, saying “We firmly believe that for a number of issues, including civil rights, women’s rights, anti-racism, and LGBT equality, there are not two sides.” Smith’s statement and NPR’s updated policy draw a distinction between human rights and politics. While human rights issues are often treated as political conflicts, some media outlets are trying to remove civil liberties from the ‘right’ and ‘left.'”
Ben Smith added that BuzzFeed reporters should continue to prioritize reporting that puts “facts and news first.” Whether you know it or not, all reporters have their own opinions, and a good journalist should be able to report fairly regardless of his or her bias. By being self-aware, journalists are better equipped to report fairly and responsibly.
The bottom line
The issues in our country and across the world affect all of us and our livelihood. While journalists have an important responsibility, we are people too, and we are equally deserving of our human rights and the ability to fight for them.
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