Objectivity in journalism is assumed to be synomous with a bias-free story. In reality, it means that the story is fair and balanced—featuring the main view, and a bit of a dissenting view.

Bias exists in news media from the minute the story is assigned (why did the editor choose that particular story?) to where it is placed on the page or in the broadcast. Reporters also are affected by bias—what questions they ask, the tone in which they ask those questions.

Despite those biases, jounralism is generally fair.

Objectivity, though, is a myth becuase humans are subjective, emotional creatures. But we can be fair. So the jounarlism existing in the traditional (newspapers, radio, TV) is generally offering a fair and balanced version of the event being covered.

“Subjective” journalism is becoming more popular now, thanks in a large part to the Internet. Online journalists can afford to inject a bit more personality into their stories, as they can link to the orginal source material.