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An Examination of the Concept of Objectivity National Llbrary BHIW~&nationale 1*1 of Canada du Canada Canadian Theses Service Service des theses canadiennes Onawa, Can& K1 A OFJ4*, NOTICE The quality of this microform is heavily dependem.upon the Laqualit6 de cette microforme depend grandernent de la quality of the ong'.~althesis submitted for microfilming. qualitb de la these soumise au microfilmage. Nous avons Every effcrt has been made to ensure the highest quality of tout fait pour assurer une qualit6 supbrieure de reproduc. reproduction possible. tion. I! pages are missing, contact the university whic dgranted S'il manque des pages, vwillez mmmuniquer avec the degree. I'universit6 qui a confkrb le grade. Some pages may have indistinct print especially if the La qualit6 d'impress~onde certaines pages peut laisser a onginal pages were typed with a prtypewriter ribbon or desirer, surtout si les pages originales ont 616 dactylogra- it the university sent us an inferior photmpy. phitiles A-raide d'un ruban us6 ou si runiversitb nous a talt parvenir une photocopie de qualit6 inferieure. keproduction tn fult or in part of th~smicroform is La reproduction, mCme partielle, de cette microforme est by the Canadran Copyright Act, R S C. 1970, c. remed30, and soumise a la Loi canadienne sur le droit d'auteur, SRC subsequent amendments. 1970, c C-30, et ses amendements bubsbquents OWECt IVITY IS A,MERICAN JOURSALISM \ B.A.. Beijing Broadcasting Ihrtiture, 1984 THESIS SL-BMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF .M.ASTER OF ARTS (COMMUNICATION) in the DepartmenP of Communication Zhao Yuezhi 1989 S1;LIOY FRXSER UNIVERSITY April 1989 .+!I rights reserved. This work may not be xprduced in whole or in part, by photocopy or other means: without permission of the author. Natmal Library BiWidh&~mtimale 1+1 of Canada du Canada Canadian Theses Service Service des Wses canadiennes Onawa. Canada Kl A ONd The author has granted an inevocable non- L'auteur a accord6 une licence irr6vocaMe et exdWe Kcma allowing iheNatio'nal Library ncxl exclusive pennettant ii la Wi)th&ue of Canada to reproduce, h,distribute or sell natiorrale du Canada be reproduire, p&ter, copiesofhislherWsbymy~&in diStr&wr ou vendre des cop& de sa th&e \ any fonn ar format, mahg tiis thesis availaMe de quelpue haniere et Sous quwe forme ' to interested persons. t que ce soit pour mettre des exemplaires de cette these a la disposition des personnes interessees. The author retains ownership of the copyright L'auteur conserve la propriete du droit d'auteur in hisher thesis. Neither the thesis nor qui prot6ge sa Wse. Ni b these ni des extraits substantial extracts from it may be printed or substantiels de celled ne doivent &re otherwise reproduced without hidher per- imprim& ou autrement reproduits sans son mission. autorisation. APPROVAL NAME: DEGREE : Master of Arts (Communication) TITLE OF THESIS: Objectivity and Coxunercial News: An Examination of the Concept .of Objectivity W in North Ame~ican~ourxhlism EXAMINING COMMITTEE: Chairman : Dr. William D. aRichards, Jr. Dr. Marl+ Associate Pro or Senior Supervisor Dr. ~kass''~.~ik'kZ"t""C Assistant Professor Supervisor LL, tw-r-- -- - [ r~ Mr. Gefald A. Porter Journalism Instructor, Vancouver Community College External Examiner DATE APPROVED : 20 April 198*9 PARTIAL COPYRIGHT LICENSE I he2eby qrant to Simon Fraser University the right to , - ienc! my thesis or dissertation (the title of which-is shcwn below) to users of the'sirnon Fraser University Library, and -:o make partial cr single copies only for soch users or in response to a request from the library of any other .--.-A.-versity, or ether edscational institution, Gn its own .-- ze?aif or for one its users. I further agree that "; Objectivity and Commercial News: An Examination of the concept of Objectivity in North American Journalism. - - Yuezhi Zhao T;BE , 20 April 1989 ABSTRACT 4 This thesis examines the concept of objectivity in North American journalism. It attempts to make sense of the concept by searching its historical roots and by amlyqing contemporary discourse surrounding the concept. The thesis argues that the concept of objectivity was historically linked with the commercial press. This press claimed to rake the perspective of "everybody" as it challenged the hegemony of the elite press of the pre-1830s and established its own hegemony in the domain of social.signification. This universal perspective, or this position of presenting news independent of particular interests, was what the original ideal of objectivity meant in journalism. It not only gave the press economic advantages, but also gave ir the moral sqxriority that was esseotial for its political legitimacy. The thesis identifies journalistic conventions such as factualin, balance and impartiality as journalistic practices that have been historically privileged as the dominant version of the objectivity ideal in the context of the commercial media system. The thesis further argues that as the hegemonic ideology of the commercial news media, objectivity is not only conmtl)- being redefined by the press itself in facing emerging forms of journalistic consciousness and practice, but also actively constituted by different forces in the society at large. It acts as a political insmen? in the struggle over the. power of social signification through the media. For this reason, ths must be seen as fluid, dynamic, and multifaceted. It is concept that contains and unlimited potentials. The thesis is mainly based on a critique of contemporary literature on mainstream North .\,r:sT.can Journaiism. Ii disputes rxo simplisuc versions of objectivin: the liberal pluralist version that f.,-.,.A 4- ro aks :I"le currmr piaidct ~JFobjxtivi3- at fxe value and the radical critique of objectivity that -=+,A.L..~b - 7.O :iei~Lbe concept a5 s ci~c',monolirhic ideology of the capitalist press. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS - I wish to ecpress my appreciation and gratitude to the people who have helped me in the process of completing this degree and thesis. I am grateful to my graduate committee: Martin Laba, my senior supervisor, for his invaluable advice and encouragement; and Robert Hackett, for his critical insights and his meticulous scrutiny of my work. I also wish to thank Liora Salter who taught me much about doing *. research. I owe a great debt of gratitude to many of my fellow Communication graduate students at Simon Fraser University. Their concern, enthusiasm, and encouragement have created the warmest and most -40 friendly environment I can possibly expect in a foreign land. Their moral supPoit and practical assistance helped to susrzin me thro~ghout. Special thanks are due to Philip Savage, Lori Walker, Pilar 'iplano, Margaret MacNeill, Suzanne Scheuneman, Frans Vandendries, Arlene Schwetz. Yasmin Jiwani, and Marie Riley. Finally, I am deeply indebted to my husband, Qian Jianxing, who 5ore two years of separation from me in China during my study in Canada, and whose support and sacrifices have meant so much to me. To Jianxing I give my heartfelt thanks. DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated to my beloved fellow Chinese students and citizens, whose dreams and I ideals I deeply share, whose courage and .dedication will be my lifetime source of inspiration. INTRODUCTION The modem mmrnercia1 press, almost since its inception in the early ninetee~tbcentwry, has set- . for itself a goal of providing detached, impartial, and "objective" aceutints of the world. This ideal. - however, was seen as problematic almost from the outset Enunciation of the ideal of objectivity, therefore, has accompanied constant challenges to it throughout journalistic history. his challenge - reached a crucial moment in the 1960s, during which the idea that objectivity is a myth became widely \ shared within the rising critical culture. Since 'the 1970s, the radical critique on objectivity has been uansformed into a more systematic analysis of b~lt-inbias in media representation. This critical analysis of journalistic objectivity, it may be seen, is a central component of a new paradigm in media studies - critical media theory. This thesis is offered as yet another contribution to the critical analysis of objectivity in journalism. It explores the problematic of journalistic objectivity by searching the historical origins of the concept and by examining contemporary discourse on the concept in the mainstream commercial media. The purpose of the thesis is not to argue for or against the ideal, but to provide a consistent and comprehensive account on how the ideal has originated, developed and been perpetuated in both . journalistic theories and practices. Furthermore, the thesis will also look at how the ideal mediates the relationships between the meiiia and other social forces such as politicians, legislators and audiences in 4 the realm of social signification. This thesis contains five chapters. Chapter 1 is devoted to a brief review of the debate on objectivity in journalism. At'the edof this chapter, a more detailed description of the thesis will provided. Chapter 2 and 3 focus on the historical origins of the objectivity concept in journalism. Chapter 4 examines contemporary discourse on journalistic objectivity to discover the endurance. flexibility and pervasiveness of the concept Chapter 5 is designed as a case study. Through an examination of the recent debate on the Fairness Doctrine in the United States, this chapter analyzes how the concept of objectivity mediates the relationships between different social forces in the struggle for the power over social signification. The thesis concludes with a call for a historical, multi-dimensional understanding of the concept of journalistic objectivity. To study objectivity is a risky, conflict-laden undertaking. I hive chosen such a topic not only because of my belief thafl may add something new to the literature, but because of my personal experience with the concept I was taught that in a society divided into antagonistic classes, there is no d such a thing as objective news presentation.
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