Objective fairytale : American journalism in the 21st century, 2007

Item — Call Number: MU Thesis Riv

Identifier: b2233265

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

The collection consists of theses written by students enrolled in the Monmouth University graduate Communication program. The holdings are bound print documents that were submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for the Master of Arts degree.

Dates

Creation: 2007

Creator

Rivera, Glendaliz (1979- ) (Author, Person)
Novek, Eleanor (Thesis advisor, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use. Access is by appointment only.

Access to the collection is confined to the Monmouth University Library and is subject to patron policies approved by the Monmouth University Library.

Collection holdings may not be borrowed through interlibrary loan.

Research appointments are scheduled by the Monmouth University Library Archives Collections Manager (723-923-4526). A minimum of three days advance notice is required to arrange a research appointment for access to the collection.

Patrons must complete a Researcher Registration Form and provide appropriate identification to gain access to the collection holdings. Copies of these documents will be kept on file at the Monmouth University Library.

Extent

1 Items (print book) : 47 pages ; 8.5 x 11.0 inches (28 cm).

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Introduction [excerpt]

In the contemporary United States many newspapers have been criticized for not being objective. American readers have claimed that journalists take political positions and make value judgments in their daily reporting. In fact, scholars like Noam Chomsky (2001), Albert Gunther (1998), and Gaye Tuchman (1972) have conducted studies that support a journalistic bias in news reporting. By what yardstick can objectivity be measured? ...

What does it exactly mean for journalists to be objective? Is objectivity subjective? Objectivity was not a professional norm in the American Press until the early 20th century....

I propose to gather evidence for this study by interviewing various journalists and ask them about their feelings and attitudes towards this norm. I will also ask for the factors that influence journalists to decide what to write about and how to write about [sic]. The purpose of this research is to demonstrate the actual guidelines that journalists follow to write a story and the truth about how a story is written and its intent.