Beyond Objectivity and Relativism: a View Of
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BEYOND OBJECTIVITY AND RELATIVISM: A VIEW OF JOURNALISM FROM A RHETORICAL PERSPECTIVE A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University by Catherine Meienberg Gynn, B.A., M.A. The Ohio State University 1995 Dissertation Committee Approved by Josina M. Makau Susan L. Kline Adviser Paul V. Peterson Department of Communication Joseph M. Foley UMI Number: 9533982 UMI Microform 9533982 Copyright 1995, by UMI Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. UMI 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, MI 48103 DEDICATION To my husband, Jack D. Gynn, and my son, Matthew M. Gynn. With thanks to my parents, Alyce W. Meienberg and the late John T. Meienberg. This dissertation is in respectful memory of Lauren Rudolph Michael James Nole Celina Shribbs Riley Detwiler young victims of the events described herein. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I express sincere appreciation to Professor Josina M. Makau, Academic Planner, California State University at Monterey Bay, whose faith in this project was unwavering and who continually inspired me throughout my graduate studies, and to Professor Susan Kline, Department of Communication, The Ohio State University, whose guidance, friendship and encouragement made the final steps of this particular journey enjoyable. I wish to thank Professor Emeritus Paul V. Peterson, School of Journalism, The Ohio State University, for guidance that I have relied on since my undergraduate and master's programs, and whose distinguished participation in this project is meaningful to me beyond its significant academic merit. Gratitude also is expressed to Professor Joseph Foley for his support and encouragement which has been instrumental in allowing me to complete this project. I thank Professor James Darsey whose many incisive comments contributed greatly to the development of this work, and Professor Mary Garrett for her learned guidance during earlier stages of this project. For permission to reprint copyrighted articles, I gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post. and the Seattle Times. I thank my parents, Alyce W. Meienberg and the late John T. Meienberg, for providing a home full of books and ideas, and for instilling in me a desire not just to learn, but to understand. To my son, Matthew, who has grown up while I was growing through this program, I thank you for sharing this voyage with me. And, to my husband, Jack, I express my fervent thanks for your love and support, for now and for always. Above all, I thank God for bringing these people into my life. VITA 23 April, 1953 Bom, New York City 1975 B.A., School of Journalism The Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio 1975-1978 Public relations account consultant Phillips Advertising Agency San Diego, California 1980-1988 Administrative staff writer The Ohio State University 1986 M.A., School of Journalism The Ohio State University 1986-1990 Reporter Suburban News Publications Columbus, Ohio 1990-1995 Graduate Teaching Associate Department of Communication The Ohio State University FIELDS OF STUDY Major Field: Communication Studies in rhetoric, ethics, reasoning, argumentation and debate, Professor Josina Makau; persuasion theory, Professor Susan Kline; social movement theory, Professor James Darsey; rhetorical criticism, Professors James Darsey and Sonja Foss; foundations of rhetoric, Professors Mary Garrett and James Hikins; cultural studies, Professors Brenda Dervin and Joseph Pilotta; interpersonal theory and research, Professor Donald Cegala; telecommunication and mass media theory and research, Professors Thomas McCain and Joseph Foley. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS DEDICATION ................................................................................................ ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS................................................................................ iii VITA ............................................................................................................ iv LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................ viii ABSTRACT ................................................................................................ ix CHAPTER PAGE I. INTRODUCTION TO THE PROJECT ...................................... 1 Statement of the Questions ........................................................... 1 Pertinent literature ........................................................................... 5 Current views on journalism objectivity ................................... 5 Rhetorical approaches to questions of objectivity ................. 9 Justification ....................................................................................... 11 Procedures ..................................................................................... 15 Summary ............................................................................................ 16 Endnotes to Chapter I .................................................................... 18 II. OBJECTIVITY AND AMERICAN PRINT JOURNALISM .............. 19 Objectivity as working credo ..............................................................20 Current views on objectivity in American journalism ...............20 Operationalizing objectivity to ensure representational accuracy .........................................................24 Factuality . ............................................................................25 Impartiality .............................................................................. 27 Arrangement ............................................................................28 Placement ................................................................................ 30 Concrete details and attribution ...........................................31 Objectivity and interpretive sufficiency ...................................... 33 Operationalizing objectivity to ensure ethicality ........................ 36 History of Objectivity in Philosophical Context ............................... 39 v Controlling subjectivity .............................................................. 40 Objectivity as a philosophical concern ...................................43 A Rhetorical Perspective .................................................................48 Endnotes to Chapter I I ................................................................... 51 III. RHETORIC OF INQUIRY AS A MODEL FOR RHETORIC OF JOURNALISM .................................................53 Rhetoric ol Inquiry .......................................................................... 55 Philosophical b a s is ................................................................... 55 Interdisciplinary dialogue .......................................................... 63 Theoretical framework .............................................................. 68 Developing a Rhetoric of Inquiry for Journalism ......................... 74 Developing basic characteristics ............................................ 75 Examining the practical role of basic characteristics ............77 Examining rhetoric as socializing discourse ......................... 78 Narrative and social response .......................................... 79 Narrative and arrangement .............................................. 81 Narrative and language ..................................................... 82 Narrative and v o ic e ............................................................ 84 Relating rhetorical elements to socializing functions ............85 Comparing classical forms of p ro o f ................................ 85 Concern with argument arrangement .............................. 86 E th o s.................................................................................... 87 Focus on ethical narrative ........................................................ 88 Challenges, Parallels, and Clarifications ................................ 93 Challenges .......................................................................... 93 Parallels ...............................................................................95 Clarifications ........................................................................ 101 A Rhetoric of Inquiry for Journalism ............................................ 103 Explicating rhetorical characteristics ....................................... 104 Placement ............................................................................ 105 Linear Structure ................................................................... 105 Emphasis on observable details ....................................... 106 Balance as a means of achieving fairness ..................... 107 Attribution as a form of ethos............................................ 107 Passive construction to remove rh e to r ............................ 108 Implications of language choice ....................................... 108 Summary ........................................................................................ 109 Endnotes to Chapter III ................................................................. 111 vi IV. RHETORIC OF JOURNALISM: A CASE STUDY......................... 112 Background and selection of the artifacts .................................. 113 Telling the Story of E. coli ...........................................................