Does objectivity exist in the news media? In The Invention of Journalism Ethics, Stephen Ward argues that given the current emphasis on interpretation, analysis, and perspective, journalists and the public need a new theory of objectivity. He explores the varied ethical assertions of journalists over the past few centuries, focusing on the changing relationship between journalist and audience. This historical analysis leads to an innovative theory of pragmatic objectivity that enables journalists and the public to recognize and avoid biased and unbalanced reporting. Ward convincingly demonstrates that journalistic objectivity is not a set of absolute standards but the same fallible but reasonable objectivity used for making decisions in other professions and public institutions. Considered a classic in the field since its first publication in 2004, this second edition includes new chapters that bring the book up to speed with journalism ethics in the twenty-first century by focusing on the growing dominance of online journalism and calling for a radical approach to journalism ethics reform. Ward also addresses important developments that have occurred in the last decade, including the emergence of digital journalism ethics and global journalism ethics.

Stephen J.A. Ward is distinguished lecturer on ethics at the Graduate School of Journalism, University of British Columbia, and the author of The Invention of Journalism Ethics: The Path to Objectivity and Beyond and Global Journalism Ethics.

Stephen J.A. Ward's profile page

"This tightly written tour de force will be the authoritative work on objectivity and journalism." Clifford G. Christians, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

"The Invention of Journalism Ethics promises to stimulate new research and new thinking about the professional standards to which journalists should aspire in this age of rapidly changing technology and global communications." Fred Fletcher, York University

“Graduate students, media ethicists, journalism-studies scholars, and media historians will all benefit from this admirable work, especially in an era wherein certain political actors defy the existence of facts. A more robust idea of what objectivity is