If there is one criticism that is levelled against the media's reporting of the news, is that it isn't balanced. Just think Middle East conflict, where both Palestinians and Israelis each criticise the media of lack of balance - and often, of downright bias.
"Balance" is the operative word! But can there be such a thing as "balance?". Step up to the plate Kate Adie to answer the question, as she did at the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival 2010, when in conversation with Jennifer Byrne, the presenter of Australian ABC's popular book program, First Tuesday Book Club.
Kate Adie OBE is a British journalist. Her most high-profile role was that of chief news correspondent for BBC News during which time she became well-known for reporting from war zones around the world.
According to Adie "balance" isn't the correct word in the first place. " Objective", perhaps. Rather her position was that a reporter's duty came down to two crucial words. First, to know and convey the "facts". And secondly, to be "fair"in the reporting of those facts.
She, like veteran journalist and reporter Robert Fisk, says that there are situations where so-called balance simply can't apply. Could one, or indeed should one, say, provide a balanced report on coming upon the concentration camps at the end of WW2 - and in reporting the horrific scenes witnessed - report on that, but also provide "balance" by recording the reasoning of the Germans for doing what they did? Point made!
"Balance" is the operative word! But can there be such a thing as "balance?". Step up to the plate Kate Adie to answer the question, as she did at the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival 2010, when in conversation with Jennifer Byrne, the presenter of Australian ABC's popular book program, First Tuesday Book Club.
Kate Adie OBE is a British journalist. Her most high-profile role was that of chief news correspondent for BBC News during which time she became well-known for reporting from war zones around the world.
According to Adie "balance" isn't the correct word in the first place. " Objective", perhaps. Rather her position was that a reporter's duty came down to two crucial words. First, to know and convey the "facts". And secondly, to be "fair"in the reporting of those facts.
She, like veteran journalist and reporter Robert Fisk, says that there are situations where so-called balance simply can't apply. Could one, or indeed should one, say, provide a balanced report on coming upon the concentration camps at the end of WW2 - and in reporting the horrific scenes witnessed - report on that, but also provide "balance" by recording the reasoning of the Germans for doing what they did? Point made!
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