3 of 40

Write now Article Tools

Journalism becomes fiction only when the reporter or his/her employer - be it an electronic media outlet, newspaper or magazine - interjects their own agenda or opinions into what should be an objective news story. This changes the nature of the story from a fact-piece into an editorial. And editorials belong only on an editorial page or in an editorial section of a news broadcast, clearly marked as such.

The best current example of how some journalistic endeavor has become polluted by opinion, is the politicization of science. So, the right-leaning media have turned stem-cell research into a religious holy war, decrying it as murder, when it is no such thing. The left-leaning media has take climate change, renamed it global warming, and turned it into a cause celebre, even as scientists are still divided on cause and effect

By losing their objectivity, media reporting on the truths of the underlying issues has been clouded. Instead of them being rationally examined in our news outlets, these critical issues have become magnets of controversy - media dis-service to science and the public.

The Fourth Estate is basically a self-policing part of our society. As long as there are irresponsible reporters, editors, publishers and media barons, what once was journalism has morphed into partisan entertainment. More's to pity.

Learn more about this author, Martin W. Schwartz.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Commentary: When journalism becomes fiction?
We want to hear your view. Write now!