What is objectivity, anyway?

So how does being a boi intersect with my love of writing and news?

In the 20th century, one of the highest goals for most reporters was to be totally objective. I've learned a lot about objectivity since I got my journalism degree in 1991.

I've come to understand that there is no way to be totally objective. Every reporter and editor comes to a story with a background that informs how they do their job. That background includes their religion, class, race, education, sexuality, etc. 

My background as a Jewish lesbian from the Northeast informs all that I do, including how I write or edit a news article. Being a boi is part of my background as well. 

Our backgrounds also influence what beats -- or topics -- we choose to cover, and what questions we choose to ask while covering a those stories.

I tell my students to be as objective as possible while doing their work. As journalists, we have to be aware of our biases and try not to let them influence the story. And unless we're writing opinion or analysis pieces, we can't bring our opinions into the story.

This doesn't mean acting as stenographers. We must ask the tough questions. We must tell the stories no one wants to hear. That's one of the main reasons for the First Amendment.

The No. 1 goal of the Society of Professional Journalist's Code of Ethics is to "seek truth and report it." That must be a journalist's highest aim.

To me, journalism is all about seeking the truth while being aware of one's biases.