Against the backdrop of the familiar yet peculiar African political scene, where, from country to country, military dictatorships struggle (without real success), at wearing smiling faces; or where democracies strap of such full armour as to brook no opposition, this article discusses objectivity in the media. Objectivity is the state or quality of not being influenced by personal bias, prejudice, feelings and opinions. Objective news-reporting Is that which is devoid of inferences. Judgement and slanting. Yet modern journalism is not altogether a professional practice in which the operators become, simply, automatons - unthinking, unfeeling and without emotion. Objectivity is thus a relative term - relative to the system that exists. The position adopted by this article is that objectivity in news presentation is not a myth, nor a mere philosophical abstraction, but an attainable media goal which the journalist must strive for, even in the face of opposing realities. Six factors which the journalist and the media must grapple with, if objectivity is to be meaningful and a worthwhile journalistic pursuit, are presented.
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