As a result of my current journalism crash course, I have become semi-obsessed with the idea of objectivity in the media. I believe, like most journalists, that we should do our best to give accurate and fair information. For that reason, I also believe we should make it clear that journalists are not objective, all-knowing pseudo-humans.
Journalists are people too and people are always biased in some way. This should be made more clear for the sake of our readers. For their part, our audience should also make an effort to recognize that everything they read goes through a person (if not multiple people) before it gets to them.
Even when we do our best to be objective, every choice we make -- from what sources we contact, to what quotes we choose -- is affected by our personal preferences.
So, in an effort to put my money where my mouth is, here are some of my personal science-related biases:
I know science is not the same as truth
Scientists (most of them) know this too. That being said, science is also not simple guesswork. The vast majority of scientists put a lot of care into their work and consult time-tested scientific knowledge. Still, sometimes science is wrong. Really coming to terms with this can be uncomfortable but everyone should do it.
I believe in evolution
I was a biological anthropology major in undergraduate. That means I studied human evolution. I believe in the overall Theory of Evolution. However, I also believe that there is a lot of uncertainty in evolutionary science (as in all science) and that it needs to be constantly questioned and readjusted in order for it to improve. If you don't believe me, Google "epigenetics." It was quite a surprise for many hard-core evolutionists.
I believe people are causing climate change
The human race has created truly incredible things over the span of its existence. Much of the time, I can't even wrap my head around how we've gotten where we are. That being said, anyone who sees what we've made should also be able to recognize the grand effect we've have on our planet. Again, like with evolution, there is still a lot of work to be done before we fully understand what's happening to the climate. Unfortunately, we don't have the luxury of time in this case and should be putting some serious work into reducing our negative impact on the environment.
I have a serious soft spot for nature
I love plants and animals (but, no, I'm not a vegetarian). The smell of flowers, the unintentional smile of a dog, and the crackle of pine needles beneath my feet all give me immense pleasure. I would choose a park over a shopping mall any day. That being said, I am beginning to accept that one way for us to protect nature is by moving closer together into cities. I don't like it, but it's true.
I support gay rights
The topic of gay rights goes far beyond the realm of science. Regardless of the context, I firmly believe that people should never be discriminated against on the basis of their sexual orientation. I can only hope that our civilization will soon realize how cruel they are being by stigmatizing homosexuality.
If you have any opinions on this topic, please leave me a comment. I would love to hear other people's thoughts about bias in journalism.
Journalists are people too and people are always biased in some way. This should be made more clear for the sake of our readers. For their part, our audience should also make an effort to recognize that everything they read goes through a person (if not multiple people) before it gets to them.
Even when we do our best to be objective, every choice we make -- from what sources we contact, to what quotes we choose -- is affected by our personal preferences.
So, in an effort to put my money where my mouth is, here are some of my personal science-related biases:
I know science is not the same as truth
Scientists (most of them) know this too. That being said, science is also not simple guesswork. The vast majority of scientists put a lot of care into their work and consult time-tested scientific knowledge. Still, sometimes science is wrong. Really coming to terms with this can be uncomfortable but everyone should do it.
I believe in evolution
I was a biological anthropology major in undergraduate. That means I studied human evolution. I believe in the overall Theory of Evolution. However, I also believe that there is a lot of uncertainty in evolutionary science (as in all science) and that it needs to be constantly questioned and readjusted in order for it to improve. If you don't believe me, Google "epigenetics." It was quite a surprise for many hard-core evolutionists.
I believe people are causing climate change
The human race has created truly incredible things over the span of its existence. Much of the time, I can't even wrap my head around how we've gotten where we are. That being said, anyone who sees what we've made should also be able to recognize the grand effect we've have on our planet. Again, like with evolution, there is still a lot of work to be done before we fully understand what's happening to the climate. Unfortunately, we don't have the luxury of time in this case and should be putting some serious work into reducing our negative impact on the environment.
I have a serious soft spot for nature
I love plants and animals (but, no, I'm not a vegetarian). The smell of flowers, the unintentional smile of a dog, and the crackle of pine needles beneath my feet all give me immense pleasure. I would choose a park over a shopping mall any day. That being said, I am beginning to accept that one way for us to protect nature is by moving closer together into cities. I don't like it, but it's true.
I support gay rights
The topic of gay rights goes far beyond the realm of science. Regardless of the context, I firmly believe that people should never be discriminated against on the basis of their sexual orientation. I can only hope that our civilization will soon realize how cruel they are being by stigmatizing homosexuality.
If you have any opinions on this topic, please leave me a comment. I would love to hear other people's thoughts about bias in journalism.
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