ABSTRACT
The argument that ‘objective journalism’ is, simply, not fit for purpose (and never was), should not be taken to suggest that journalism should proceed without any rules or standards or foundations. Prior to the rise of objectivity as an ideology, the press functioned with an open, honest subjectivity. For example, American newspapers of the 18th century were partisan, some even exhorting their readers to throw off their shackles as royal subjects and become citizens of a republic. They are honoured in history for so doing. Today, particularly since ‘objectivity’ can now be understood as a tactic intended to blunt criticism of the monopoly on news possessed by the class of people rich enough to own new media platforms, there is an argument to be made that society should return to this previous ideology, and the intrinsic subjectivity of news – unavoidable, whether admitted to or not – be acknowledged. It is only once it is understood that news is and always must be biased (‘biased’ being the term given to subjectivity when we disapprove of it), that the problem of fake news can be contextualised, deciphered, and fought. Abandoning the press’s pretentions to objectivity is no easy matter, but, paradoxically, it is the way forward.
