The practice of neutrality: When can it be negative?

 Maxwell Abbatiello

ma281019@ohio.edu

Image via Varsity

A common form of practice that journalists utilize consistently is remaining neutral or providing both viewpoints of a topic. However, the public's growing skepticism over time has also pressured journalists to be cautious so as not to come off as biased. While the thought of providing a voice for all sides of a story sounds appealing, it has been damaging. Neutrality has given strength to arguments that are just straight-up false and turn out to be a disservice to the public. 

The priority journalists are responsible for is publishing the truth. Giving a platform for factually untrue arguments - such as the flat earth conspiracy - is unhealthy and takes away from the reputation of news. With all political beliefs aside, I feel it is fair to say President Trump was not a fan of "the media." His massive influence has undeniably influenced public opinion on news publications. He was quick to sue publications and bash them during press conferences and public appearances whenever news came out with a story that could damage his reputation. News media has made sure to take both sides when talking about subjects about him, with the capitol hill riot being a good example. 

Climate change has been turned into a debate due to journalists providing neutral coverage on the topic, even though scientists worldwide have been saying that the world is undeniably getting warmer. However, news coverage on TV will hold debates where one person argues that there is global warming and one person denies its existence. This method is not proportional and provides a platform for lies. Neutrality, in this case, is very harmful.

Cultural differences, such as the values and beliefs other countries practice, should be considered. When reporting on an article that spans internationally, it is essential to remain aware of the countries' values and beliefs the journalist is reporting on and be aware of any conflicts between them and the U.S. In cases like these, it is hard to remain neutral, and doing so could cause an increase in tension between the countries.

Neutral reportage is harmful to the public and can lead to highly harmful ideas. As long as journalists stick to the truth and their ethics, this problem will fix itself. The answer is to not give in to fear of backlash and report honest newsworthy stories.