Exercise: Objectivity and bias

Delaney Johnson

Taylor Johnson

Exercise:  Objectivity and bias

Think about the following news assignment. How will your reporting effort (i.e. gathering and presentation of the fact) strive for objectivity and lack of bias?

Washington State University has just announced that conservative spokesperson John Randdis will be holding a rally to support a proposed state initiative to re-criminalize all marijuana use. You find that a large contingent of protestors is on hand at the event to rally for medical marijuana use but in support of re-criminalizing recreational marijuana use. A very small group of vocal (e.g. they are yelling loudly at people passing by) supporters for recreational marijuana use also are on hand. John Randdis agrees to interview with you after the event. He tells you that the University fully supports his position and not that of these “deviants” who “want to toke up and destroy our society.” You need to cover the rally and provide background information on the issue.

Some questions to answer: 

·         What perspectives need to be covered here?

The perspectives of the protestors are the most important factor that needs to be covered because they are leading the rally. However, I would also address the perspective of law enforcement, health care professionals and government officials because they are the parties involved in decision making.

·         Say you have five quotes you want to use in the story, how do they
break down among the people involved?

Among the people involved the story would benefit from having quotes from someone who is completely unbiased and just a bystander, someone who is in support of medical marijuana as well as someone who does not support medical marijuana. It would also help to have quotes from someone who supports recreational drug use and someone who doesn’t support recreational marijuana use.

·         Who do you focus on in your story? That is, at what point in the story do you introduce each of the various perspectives?

The focus should be on the protestors and their views, both those for recreational and medical use of marijuana. That way the focus is on the people involved and all opinions are being heard. I would introduce both sides in the same paragraph, so that they are represented equally from a reporter’s standpoint.

·         What types of document or report sources might you look for?

I would look for the benefits of medical marijuana, and what compels people to use it for health reasons. However, I would also look for information from those who use it recreationally and why they see the importance. In addition, I would also want to look for documents explaining how medical marijuana is pertinent to someone’s health via a healthcare provider, and I would also want to speak with a police officer to discuss the concern for recreational marijuana use.