Covering Gaza
Rethinking Objectivity in Times of Human Tragedies
In: Middle East Journal of Culture and CommunicationSearch for other papers by Zahera Harb in
Current site
Google Scholar
Abstract
When journalists witness the same horrors inflicted on their people by a powerful military, anxieties around the concepts of objectivity, impartiality, balance and neutrality in journalism become paramount. Amid military campaigns described as war crimes, journalistic values, including truthfulness, accuracy and accountability, gain even greater significance. Journalists are vital in bearing witness to these atrocities, uncovering the truth and holding perpetrators accountable, even in the most perilous conditions. In the context of the war on Gaza, as well as the conflicts in southern Lebanon and Ukraine, traditional objectivity, I suggest here, is unattainable. The only semblance of truth emerges within a positioned or contextual framework. This perspective is evident in the coverage by Gazan journalists during the Israeli military atrocities, reflecting the broader challenges of war journalism. This article argues that journalists faced with the stark realities of war, they inevitably adopt a positioned objectivity, recognizing the impossibility of detachment or neutrality when confronted with the horrors of conflict. Many Western journalists and audiences have long viewed objectivity and impartiality as absolute ideals unaffected by context. However, this mindset should be challenged, as context should indeed shape our understanding of these concepts.
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| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 240 | 240 | 79 |
| Full Text Views | 18 | 18 | 1 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 115 | 115 | 15 |
Covering Gaza
Rethinking Objectivity in Times of Human Tragedies
In: Middle East Journal of Culture and CommunicationSearch for other papers by Zahera Harb in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Abstract
When journalists witness the same horrors inflicted on their people by a powerful military, anxieties around the concepts of objectivity, impartiality, balance and neutrality in journalism become paramount. Amid military campaigns described as war crimes, journalistic values, including truthfulness, accuracy and accountability, gain even greater significance. Journalists are vital in bearing witness to these atrocities, uncovering the truth and holding perpetrators accountable, even in the most perilous conditions. In the context of the war on Gaza, as well as the conflicts in southern Lebanon and Ukraine, traditional objectivity, I suggest here, is unattainable. The only semblance of truth emerges within a positioned or contextual framework. This perspective is evident in the coverage by Gazan journalists during the Israeli military atrocities, reflecting the broader challenges of war journalism. This article argues that journalists faced with the stark realities of war, they inevitably adopt a positioned objectivity, recognizing the impossibility of detachment or neutrality when confronted with the horrors of conflict. Many Western journalists and audiences have long viewed objectivity and impartiality as absolute ideals unaffected by context. However, this mindset should be challenged, as context should indeed shape our understanding of these concepts.
| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 240 | 240 | 79 |
| Full Text Views | 18 | 18 | 1 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 115 | 115 | 15 |