Objectivity in journalism is a rickety thing. 

When arguing about it – against or for it – the definition is always shifting. Many of the conversations about objectivity aren’t rooted in any serious desire for a discussion about how the word “objectivity” has been used to obfuscate racism, sexism, and transphobia in the newsrooms and the communities they cover. Instead, they're often rooted in a reverence for a journalism that never existed. 

This is true for what former Washington Post editor Marty Baron published in late March, a piece that “defends objectivity.” But there is a lack of clarity with Baron’s piece in who he's responding to. 

Throughout the entire article, Baron doesn’t name a single critic of objectivity. He instead says: “The true meaning of objectivity is not the straw man that is routinely erected by critics so that they can then tear it down.” 

Baron does give us some hints as to who and what he’s arguing against. He says some journalists believe themselves to be “moral authorities.” If that seems familiar, it’s because in 2020, Wesley Lowery wrote a piece for The New York Times calling for “moral clarity” in journalism. 

Lowery — who worked under Baron’s leadership at The Post and won a Pulitzer Prize – left after being mistreated by Baron and leadership at the paper. One of the key moments before Lowery’s departure was when Baron suggested Lowery “become an opinion writer, or work for an advocacy organization,” because he tweeted that the Tea Party in the 2010’s was “essentially a hysterical grassroots tantrum about the fact that a black guy was president?”

Relatedly, Baron, in his essay, goes on to say we should push back against “a madcap rush to social media soapboxes with spur-of-the-moment feelings or irrepressible snark and virtue signaling.” 

Baron says that the “true meaning of objectivity is not the straw man that is routinely erected by critics so that they can then tear it down.” But then he does the exact same thing: suggesting that some serious journalists want to “pre-cook” stories before reporting them. But who is arguing for this? What critique of objectivity is arguing against rigorous fact-finding?

When Lowery calls for “moral clarity” in journalism, he never argues against the merits or values behind fact-finding and rigor. When Lowery critiques how objectivity is often used to ignore the viewpoints of Black journalists and instead favor the perspective of white journalists, Baron seems to agree.

No serious journalist is arguing against the core of the objectivity Baron is describing — “thorough and open-minded research.”The entire piece boils down to two things: Baron is talking at, not to, Lowery. And he is either making up arguments against objectivity or obfuscating what many other journalists, not just Lowery, have actually said. They are not in conversation because they are not talking about the same thing.

What is frustrating is how Baron doesn’t really engage with Lowery’s piece or with numerous journalism organizations that are reimagining journalism – instead choosing to address a seemingly nonexistent issue. Baron says “Objectivity’s detractors note, with merit, that American media have been dominated by White males'' and that “Historically, the experiences of women, people of color and other marginalized populations have not been adequately told — or told at all.”

If he wanted to have a serious conversation about the way the word “objectivity” has been used to diminish and harm others, in the newsroom and outside of it, then he would have started there. Instead, we’re just left with a question: Who is Marty Baron talking to?  

–Gabe Schneider

Journalism is extractive — but it shouldn't be. For The Objective, Hannah Docter-Loeb writes about how journalism organizations can move away from practices like “parachute journalism” and instead center communities. Read more.

Will The New York Times meaningfully address its contributors who said the outlet has an anti-trans bias? On April 6, NYT contributors said leadership has still failed to substantively respond to their concerns that the paper has an anti-trans bias and is actively fomenting dangerous legislation nationwide. Read more.

What happens at arraignment? Unlike Trump, New Yorkers detail reality. The Marshall Project and The City break down when the actual everyday arraignment process looks like for New Yorkers. Read more.

How The Free Press failed to cover the Transgender Center in St. Louis. For Assigned Media, Evan Urquhart breaks down how reporter Emily Yoffe ignored the thoughts of a child – in a story about that child. Read more.

Twitter inaccurately labels NPR's account as “state-affiliated media.” NPR’s story on Elon Musk’s decision to label their official Twitter account as “state-affiliated media'' directly addresses the false claim behind the decision. Bill Chappell shows how NPR’s editorial structure – and its funding stream – is independent from the federal government. Read more.

 4 days until … The Objective’s very own Twitter Space with contributions from our upcoming print magazine, The Reckoning in Food Media. Join us to hear from Javier Cabral, Hanna Raskin, and Omnia Saed about the future of reporting on food access, equity, and other critical issues in the field. 

($) 4 days until … Webinar: How to make it as a freelancer in investigative & data journalism. Hosted by the Investigative Reporters & Editors nonprofit, the webinar looks at how freelance journalists can tackle common obstacles and challenges in the media industry. The event is $25 for non-IRE members. 

19 days until … The Campaign Journalism Conference, jointly hosted by the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics and the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard. The Chicago-based conference will cover how journalists report on the 2024 campaigns.

Looking for a job? Here are a few places to look: INN | ONA | JournalismJobs.com | 10 Jobs and a Dog | NABJ | AAJA | NAHJ | NLGJA | @WritersofColor | MEO Jobs | Freelance Journalist Rates | Source Jobs | Opportunities of the Week ($) | West Coast Media Jobs

How about a style guide? Trans Journalist Association | Diversity Style Guide | Tribal Nations Media Guide | NABJ Style Guide | Disability Language Style Guide | AAJA Guide to Covering Asian Pacific America | NAHJ Cultural Competence Handbook |  SPJ Race & Gender Hotline | AMEJA Media Resource Guide | The Press in Prison | The Conscious Style Guide

Thanks for reading. We’ll have more for you soon. 

This issue is by Gabe Schneider and Nawar Nemeh with editing by James Salanga and Curtis Yee.