1. A Case for Advocacy Journalism.
Anthony Glaser
It is okay for a news outlet to become
part of a crusade for a community
cause.

2. Critical Definitions
Objectivity.
- A frequently disputed term.
- Bill Lewis: “The process you go through to test whether or not
what you’re reporting is accurate.”
- Doug McGill: “A conglomeration of contradictory practices...
Journalism’s failure to serve the public interest is in large part
traceable to the breakdown of the norm of objectivity as a practical
and ethical guide.”
- Giles Gauthier: “Analyzing objectivity in relation to an area in
which it cannot be applied is a logical error.”

3. Critical Definitions
Neutrality.
- Not synonymous with “objectivity.”
- Associated with dispassionate and impartial writing and reporting.
- SPJ Code of Ethics: “Deny favored treatment to advertisers and
special interests and resist their pressure to influence news
coverage.
- John Morton, American Journalism Review: “The very basis of
the business model for modern newspapers rests on the theory
that what newspapers report is factual and that opinions are
segregated to the opinion pages.”

4. Objectivity and neutrality comprise the standard
journalistic practice.

5. Critical Definitions
Investigative Reporting.
“Reporting that exposes
wrongdoing or violations of law,
regulation, codes of standards
or common understanding or
decency; treats a subject of
importance to readers; and
results from attempts by others
to hide or keep something
secret.”
- Investigative Reporters and
Editors
Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, 1973

6. “An advocate speaks or pleads on behalf
of another, giving the other a face and a
Critical Definitions
voice. Advocacy journals -- sometimes
called alternative publications -- have a
declared bias, a publicly acknowledged
editorial point of view. They are upfront
about their editorial position.”
- Sue Careless
Advocacy Journalism.
- Reflective.
- Promotes a particular outcome or cause.
- Admittedly one-sided.
Shepard Smith

7. What challenges does the expectation of
neutrality present?
Consider the definition of investigative reporting, a type of journalism
deemed acceptable by standard practice.
Consider the definition of investigative reporting, a type of journalism
deemed acceptable by standard practice.
Consider the definition of investigative reporting, a type of journalism
deemed acceptable by standard practice.

8. “Reporting that exposes wrongdoing or violations of
law, regulation, codes of standards or common
understanding or decency; treats a subject of
importance to readers; and results from attempts by
others to hide or keep something secret.”
- Investigative Reporters and Editors
- “Wrongdoing,” “decency,” and “importance” are entirely subjective terms.
- All considerations rely on the making of judgement calls.
- Judgement calls conflict with the notion of neutrality.

9. Objective?
Neutral?
Investigative Reporting in Practice.
Sara Ganim breaks
the story of
Sandusky’s
involvement in the
Penn State scandal.

10. Objective? Yes.
Neutral?
Investigative Reporting in Practice.
Sara Ganim breaks
the story of
Sandusky’s
involvement in the
Penn State scandal.

11. Objective? Yes.
Neutral? No.
Investigative Reporting in Practice.
Sara Ganim breaks
the story of
Sandusky’s
involvement in the
Penn State scandal.

12. “Newspapers
advocated many
interests.” Historical Origins of Advocacy
- Wm. David
Sloan
Journalism: Muckraking
Late 1800s - Start of WWI
- The Standard served the labor movement.
- The Cherokee Nation provided a forum of
discussion for issues faced by Native
Americans.
- Ida B. Wells wrote of the horrors of the
lynching of black men.
- Upton Sinclair published a compilation of
articles into The Jungle, a book about wage
slavery.
Upton Sinclair

13. Modern Advocacy Journalism in Practice.
- ABC World News Tonight anchor Bob Woodruff advocated
better governmental healthcare for veterans, particularly those
who had suffered head trauma.
- The Toronto Star encouraged readers to donate to a
charity raising money to educate and provide shelter to
Roya Shams, the daughter of an Afghan police
commander who was killed in attempting to liberate his
people from extremists.
- Fox News reporters criticized the government’s inadequate
response to Hurricane Katrina.
Some of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

14. Geraldo Rivera and Shepard Smith report from New Orleans.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPswpqB73SA

15. Cases served a greater
good, Defending Advocacy
benefitting the Journalism.
public at the cost of
Utility.
neutrality and objectivity.

16. Acknowledging personal
Defending Advocacy
biases affirms credibility. Journalism.
Transparency.

17. Advocacy journalism is
Defending Advocacy Journalism.
intended to supplement
mainstream journalism, not
Advocacy as an alternative.
replace it entirely.

18. Advocacy journalism dismisses unattainable ideals in
favor of an honest, straightforward standard: that of
helping the public in addition to informing it.
To Conclude.

19. Works Cited.
Associated Press. “Hurricane Katrina.” AP Images. 20 July 2005.
Associated Press. “TV Professor Shep.” AP Images. 24 May 2011.
Associated Press. “Upton Sinclair.” AP Images. 1 Jan. 1963.
Associated Press. “Watergate Woodward and Bernstein.” AP Images. 7 May 1973.
Bauder, David. “Coverage of Katrina bolsters standing of Fox’s Shepard Smith.” The Seattle Times. 2005. <
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002520970_katshep26.html>
Careless, Sue. “Advocacy Journalism.” The Interim. 2000.
<http://www.theinterim.com/2000/may/10advocacy.html>
Ganim, Sara. “Jerry Sandusky, former Penn State football staffer, subject of grand jury investigation.” PennLive.com. 2011. <http://www.pennlive.c
om/midstate/index.ssf/2011/03/jerry_sandusky_former_penn_sta.html>
“Hannity and Colmes Hurricane Katrina Geraldo Shepard Smith.” 17 April 2006. Online video clip. YouTube.
Lewis, Bill. Personal interview. 8 Mar. 2012.
McGill, Doug. “The Fading Mystique of an Objective Press.” The McGill Report. 2004.
Morton, John. “Staying Neutral.” American Journalism Review. 2010.
Murphy, Cara. “Objective Journalism Vs. Advocacy Journalism. eHow. 2011.
<http://www.ehow.com/info_12026815_objective-journalism-vs-advocacy-journalism.html>
O’Sullivan, Seanna. “Operation Christmas Child.” AP Images. 27 Oct. 2001.
Patterson, Philip and Lee Wilkins. Media Ethics: Issues & Cases. McGraw-Hill. 2011.
Solan, Wm. David. The Media in America: A History. Newport, AL: Vision Press. 2011.