For much of the 20th century, newspapers, television newscasts, and most other media outlets strove to be objective, advising journalists to stick only to the facts, deliver both sides of a dispute, and keep their personal views to themselves. This way, supporters of objectivity argued, news consumers would get all the information they needed to understand an issue and form their own opinions. In the late 1900s, however, some media experts began challenging this view, arguing that objectivity is a myth. All journalist have biases and opinions, they contend, and denying this misleads consumers and presents a false sense of balance and fairness. In today's hyperpartisan world, experts note, some news outlets slant in one political direction or another, shaping-and perhaps misinforming-consumers to the detriment citizens and society. Is objectivity essential to journalism?

Originally released by Open to Debate, 2023. Streaming video file encoded with permission for digital streaming by Infobase on November 27, 2023.