Does media impartiality exist?
The leaders of Russia and the United States are not often seen hand in hand. Yet Europe managed to bring them together for a cover shot with Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, playing the part of the matchmaker. The picture of the two smiling presidents with Berlusconi in between, taken at the G20 summit this April, traveled around Italy on the front pages of all mayor newspapers and baffled even readers familiar with world politics.
Insiders like John Lloyd, contributing editor to the Financial Times, know that such events have nothing to do with reality, they are just for show. He used the above example to prove that false information is circulated in all the media. “Image is everything in our business. The reality what we see has been composed by crowds of PR professionals” – Lloyd said at the debate about media impartiality.
Indeed, knowing your way around the current media business is no easy job. It is particularly not so when thousands of spin doctors and journalists are ready to further blurring the image. Many people, however, prefer to be kept in the dark according to RAI 1 News director Gianni Riotta. “People don’t look for ideas to think about but to support their own ideas. Everyone can have the right to their opinion, but not to own facts. We can’t change the facts.”
Yet facts do appear in various shapes and sizes so remaining detached is a prerequisite of objectivity. But can journalism aim for credibility with its reputation tarnished by cynicism, intellectual laziness or its intimate relationship with politics?
At least it should attempt to. Good journalism must endeavor to report all the relevant facts, without hiding those which don’t lead to a clean conclusion, both editors agreed. “Having access to information is a commodity in the 21st century” – Riotta said. “However, the possibility of providing unmanipulated information is something journalists in many parts of the world still struggling for” – Lloyd added referring to China.
So those fortunate ones who have the chance to work in free press should make good use of this opportunity.
