Should TV Journalists be required to state their political affiliation when reporting on politics?

[AviatorTom]

There is often an apparent bias when a TV journalist/reporter interviews a politician or reports on a political event.

Would it be better if the journalist had to identify their political affiliation to let the public know what innate political biases they may have?

[beefcakebradybatson]

No, but they should strive to report the news without any hint of their political or any other biases. Objectivity is a myth, as every human has biases, but the task of journalists is to set aside their opinions and report the news as objectively as possible.

[OlderAndWiser]

I don't think the government could require such a disclosure. It would need to be done voluntarily. If one group, such as Fox, began doing that, it might put pressure on the others to do the same.

[purplepoppy]

Their affiliations are irrelevant, it's the affiliations of the newspaper/station that employs them that counts. It would be better if they had to display a symbol showing how far left/right they lean and perhaps one showing their credibility rating.

[thatshydork]

A journalists political beliefs have absolutely nothing to do with what they report on. Reputable and reliable news sources like the New York Times or ABC news or Washington Post generally remain as unbiased as possible and so do their reporters.

[AviatorTom]

Those 3 are known to be liberal biased.

[thatshydork]

Actually they’re in the middle, like CBS news or Wall Street journal.

[katiesmuff]

For a good journalist it wouldn't matter as he is supposed to be reporting the truth which was double checked

[AviatorTom]

@katiesmuff Unfortunately, today's "journalists" are not Walter Cronkite or Edward R Murrow. They often report things in real-time, without taking the time to fact check anything.

[katiesmuff]

Totally depends on the news source! Some of the TV news stations report without bias and keep everything factually correct. Others are totally one sided

[AviatorTom]

@katiesmuff Do you really believe that?

[katiesmuff]

Yes I do! Ch 6 SNN news

[CrazyGirl2]

No! Because they would all immediately register as independent’s (if they are not already), and continue to route for their team regardless, in-spite of their own obvious bias! It wouldn't accomplish anything.

Laura 🤗 🥰

[Caroline91]

No. A truly professional journalist is trained in how to report without bias. If they are just reporting the news, they know how to present things factually and objectively and they are already aware of their own biases. It is okay in the journalistic profession to let those biases out in opinion columns and editorials. but never is straight up news reporting.

[RebelinSteel]

No, the vast majority of actual journalists from decent media outlets (at least here) are either neutral in their reporting or work for newspapers such as Daily Mail which is known for its racists, anti royal and borderline made up stories. Also over here people can change their political views loads of times. Invariably it’s the government in power that gets the flak from everyone, everyone knows politicians lie, twist the truth and say stuff they will never deliver on.

[Avicenna]

That’s not a bad idea, but it wouldn’t even be a thing if members of the media where actual journalists rather than propagandists and political operatives.

[sage2021]

Well Tom, you know that they lie, so they would probably live about their political party as well.

[Ladsin2]

They're always talking politics so yes I think they should be upfront about their biases. I think it's a problem when people try to feign objectivity when they clearly aren't. I'd prefer a world where they were honest about their position.

[Dongie]

That would be a nice. Then they wouldn't pretend they are neutral. It's cringy.

[exitseven]

No but the two used to become of conduct that had to be adhered to or else the station would lose their license. With cable we no longer had that. Maybe CA ble should be licensed

[noohair]

It should not matter. But we don't have journalists anymore. We have commentators.

[Guacamole409]

They would all lie and say they're independent.

[Anonymous]

not a bad idea

for the lefties complaining about Fox being biased in favor of Republicans'

they tend to forget they have ABC, CNN, CBS, NBC, MSNBC, PBS and many more

[Titus_of_Ultramar]

They would just lie and if their caught they would just claim they changed their opinion in real time thus hadn't had time to declare their new stance.

[msc545]

No. Ridiculous idea. We can figure it out for ourselves.

[AviatorTom]

@msc545 Not everyone notices bias

[msc545]

That is completely true, but on the other hand someone can claim to be one political party for another and still be biased in the opposite direction. I don't think they're just telling people what your political party is. Is going to be sufficient.

[chrissykerdock]

if they're goiing to be biased the should

[Walksbehindtherows]

The media must be impartial

[LazerMan]

Yes but tv people lie

[juliammm]

Yea! ask them if they eat cats and dogs!

[Anonymous]

Of course not, it’ll backfire every time because some a**hole will always start crap.