2,540 year ago Aeschylus said,”in war truth is the first causualty.” Even though this might be true it should not preclude us from making every attempt possible at uncovering and showing others the truth. I believe in the truth as much as I believe it is capable to be objective. Anyone who says that an “objective journalist is a myth,” is a liar with an agenda. Do we all have biases? You bet. It is in the recognition of said biases and overcoming them is how the truth emerges.
That said, the best, most balanced site concerning operational, strategic and tactical reporting on the Russo-Ukrainian Warcan be found at the Austrian Military Academy.
These two are the most recent, here and the Ukrainian Purgatory, here. Both are in flawless, if somewhat accented, English.
Perhaps we can claw back a bit of truth from the great Greek dramatists hell.
Oakchair
“in war truth is the first casualty.”
Before truth sinks under and drowns out of sight curiosity is sent graveside. Closely followed by an ego/sense of value that isn’t attached to the issue.
The other side has to be wrong. Anything that gives the other side a leg to stand on has to be false. Otherwise you’re not righteous, you’re not morally superior, your intellect isn’t more advanced. Instead you’re the same as those you’ve been demonizing and considering yourself better than.
The more you put into the “war”, the more unethical behaviors you commit because of it, the harder it is to even contemplate the issue without an emotional panic.
“War is the continuation of politics by other means.”
Russia tried with the Minks 1 and 2 agreements. But like the START treaty, NATO expansion agreement, Ballistic non-proliferation treaty, Iran nuclear treaty, Libya and Syrian peacekeeping agreement the west wasn’t trustworthy. Eventually Russia fully realized and internalized the fact that the west operates as Ian has described Trump
“For me to win, someone else has to lose;
If someone capitulates to my demands, I can still get more.
If you give in to Trump, he will be back.”
Purple Library Guy
No, while it is certainly possible to tell the truth, objectivity as such is not possible. Even if every word you say is true, what you say is always framed somehow, and you cannot tell EVERYTHING. Bias will come up in the selection of what is newsworthy. Even “recognizing and overcoming” biases results in SOME kind of bias. A bias towards centrism is still a bias; there is no empty position.
Say you’re covering a strike. If you emphasize the problems the strike causes, that’s bias against labour. If you emphasize the low wages, the unfair labour practices and the employer’s high profits and where they are going, that’s bias towards labour. If you try to strike a balance and talk about both, that’s bias towards the often untenable and untrue “The truth is always halfway between two sides” thesis so beloved of many journalists. Rather than claiming to be objective, it’s better to just say to the readers, “I believe in labour rights and politics good for the majority, and while I pledge not to lie and will try not to leave out important facts that I find inconvenient, that view will shape my coverage, so if you don’t like it read someone else’s.”