Here is the response from the WCRS Volunteer that wrote the original post:
"Truth" is always relative, as opposed to empirical facts, which,
though often damning are, by definition neutral. Responsible journalists
covering a complex situation like this do not attempt to discern
"truth", but strive, instead to report relevant details as factually as
possible, and to offer a diversity of perspectives from the people who
are directly involved with the story. However, there are times when a
journalist feels overwhelming empathy for one "side" in a conflict, or
for certain individuals being interviewed, and although reporters should
refrain at all times from interjecting their own opinions in to their
reports there may be situations wherein what the reporter is witnessing
is so moving that to maintain a facade of impartiality would be to
sacrifice credibility. For that reason it may be unrealistic to expect
that a Palestinian journalist in Gaza, or an Israeli reporter near the
front lines will be able to avoid sounding "biased" - nor should we ask
that of them.
The problem lies more with the listener's unreasonable expectation
that he or she will be "informed" by any single source without having to
engage in some analysis and sifting. It is always better to glean
information from a variety of sources, and to be aware of any biases
those sources may harbor, rather than holding those sources to an
impossible standard of "objectivity" and dismissing them.
Elsewhere in the media one particular perspective and bias
predominate when it comes to a wide range of issues. In the case of the
U.S. wars on Iraq and Afghanistan one seldom hears from Afghani
interviewees who oppose the presence of U.S. troops, or from Iraqis
calling for a complete and immediate U.S. withdrawl, nor from Iraq
Veterans Against the War or various human rights organizations, though
what those folks have to say may reflect the majorities in each
respective case. Likewise with the Irael / Palestine conflict one almost
never hears Palestinians speaking for themselves, except to describe, in
sound-bite tersity some aspect of their suffering, nor do you ever hear
Jewish peace activists criticizing Israeli policy. Even the Israeli news
outlets are more repesentative of the diversity of viewpoints among the
Jewish population there than the majority of Western media outlets.
The station is not taking a position on this issue, nor claiming
that what you will hear in the report will be un-biased, impartial, or
objective, (though we expect it to be factual), nor that you accept the
broadcast as your sole source of information. It is only an invitation
to hear different perspectives that are not commonly offered elsewhere.
Another thing you don't typically hear much in the rest of the
media are comprehensive proposals for workable solutions. What would be yours?
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