Objectivity's Prophet: Adolph S. Ochs and the New York Times, 1896-1935

Porwancher, Andrew, Journalism History

Historians of American journalism have shown considerable interest in the ideal of objectivity. Although scholars disagree on the precise meaning of it and the timing of its rise, the standard historiographical assumption is that objectivity emerged as a dominant professional ethic at some point between the 1890s and the 1920s. This article argues against the notion of objectivity as a guiding ideal that dictated institutional norms in this era. Instead, this study contends that objectivity was a contemporaneous legitimation of journalistic practices, a set of ideal interests used to camouflage or even further the press' material interests: increased revenue, advertising, and circulation …

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Publication information: Article title: Objectivity's Prophet: Adolph S. Ochs and the New York Times, 1896-1935. Contributors: Porwancher, Andrew - Author. Journal title: Journalism History. Volume: 36. Issue: 4 Publication date: Winter 2011. Page number: 186+. © Journalism History Winter 2009. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All Rights Reserved.

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