ABSTRACT
What is the orientation of alternative media to journalism objectivity? Do journalists in alternative media endorse, negotiate or challenge the practices and concept of objectivity as a guiding ethos? These questions are complex, since both ‘alternative media’ and ‘journalism objectivity’ are contested concepts that denote shifting, diverse, malleable and sometimes contradictory practices and organisations. They are questions worth untangling, however, as they can shed light on commonality and difference within the realm of alternative media, and relations between hegemonic and alternative media, including the possibility of reciprocal influence. Answers to these questions can also help us assess the comparative effectiveness of different editorial philosophies within alternative journalism, in terms of earning credibility and sustainability, shaping public discourse and promoting social justice. They are also relevant to understanding the status of contending paradigms within journalism, at a time of political, economic and technological flux.
