Realism, perpectivism and the question of journalistic objectivity

Abstract

From the simplest to the most complex operations carried out by journalists in their daily practice, the issue of objectivity is called into question, even when it is not the main concern. By the means of selecting of what will (or will not) be part of the news, hierarchizing and editing content, and characterizing the phenomena reported, journalists have always uphold a certain perspective about how the world is structured and organized, and therefore promoted a "better way" to access and reproduce newsworthy events. This paper aims to present the main arguments behind two responses to the issue of journalistic objectivity: realism and perspectivism. Both responses entail very different ontological, epistemological and methodological positions concerning what is at stake in the news production process.