Republican or Democrat? That is the Question
Journalists argue whether to register with a party or even vote at all
Gregory Jones
Issue date: 11/10/08 Section: Voters
Anyone looking to go into the journalism field has to make a decision on whether or not they will register with a particular party. Some journalists decide to not vote at all. They say this is to protect them from being turned away for an interview and to appear as objective as possible. How important is it really and how far should a journalist go?
Nancy Roberts, a former reporter and author, now a professor at SUNY Albany, says that not registering does give a more objective appearance. "It stems from the longstanding, professional journalism value of objectivity; reporters, historically, have been considered more objective if they do not ally themselves with a specific political party," Roberts said. Should journalists have to go as far as to not vote at all? "I think that a journalist's professional obligations should not require that he or she give up the right, as a citizen, to vote," Roberts said. In certain cases reporters have been turned away from an interview or given restricted answers because of their party affiliation. Being registered under a particular party "may affect the communication between the source and the reporter-- source may, consciously or unconsciously, shape his/her answers to the reporter's questions in a particular way," Roberts says.
Michael Hill, an AP reporter, says that he doesn't register so he can be as objective as possible. He is not affiliated with any one party and has not been turned away for an interview or treated like an enemy. "My party affiliation has never been raised by the people I cover," Hill said. While Hill does believe it is helpful to not register under one party, he doesn't think it is necessary for any journalist to not vote. "I think all eligible citizens should vote. I did," Hill said. The question goes even further into whether journalists who don't cover politics should be careful what they do. "That's hard to generalize about. I think sports writers should be free to register, but it's a tougher call for, say, business writers," Hill said.
Nancy Roberts, a former reporter and author, now a professor at SUNY Albany, says that not registering does give a more objective appearance. "It stems from the longstanding, professional journalism value of objectivity; reporters, historically, have been considered more objective if they do not ally themselves with a specific political party," Roberts said. Should journalists have to go as far as to not vote at all? "I think that a journalist's professional obligations should not require that he or she give up the right, as a citizen, to vote," Roberts said. In certain cases reporters have been turned away from an interview or given restricted answers because of their party affiliation. Being registered under a particular party "may affect the communication between the source and the reporter-- source may, consciously or unconsciously, shape his/her answers to the reporter's questions in a particular way," Roberts says.
Michael Hill, an AP reporter, says that he doesn't register so he can be as objective as possible. He is not affiliated with any one party and has not been turned away for an interview or treated like an enemy. "My party affiliation has never been raised by the people I cover," Hill said. While Hill does believe it is helpful to not register under one party, he doesn't think it is necessary for any journalist to not vote. "I think all eligible citizens should vote. I did," Hill said. The question goes even further into whether journalists who don't cover politics should be careful what they do. "That's hard to generalize about. I think sports writers should be free to register, but it's a tougher call for, say, business writers," Hill said.
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