Comments on: Journalism as an Encounter http://www.therowboat.com/2009/08/journalism-as-an-encounter/ Writings and rehearsals by Nathan Schneider. Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:31:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Eli http://www.therowboat.com/2009/08/journalism-as-an-encounter/comment-page-1/#comment-6595 Eli Fri, 14 Aug 2009 02:56:36 +0000 http://www.therowboat.com/?p=1170#comment-6595 Ah yes, description vs. explanation. I should break out the trusty Wayne Proudfoot. Anyway, I'm gearing up to write profiles of our lead plaintiffs - some rather marginalized people. I'd like to be their megaphone. Ah yes, description vs. explanation. I should break out the trusty Wayne Proudfoot. Anyway, I’m gearing up to write profiles of our lead plaintiffs – some rather marginalized people. I’d like to be their megaphone.

]]> By: Andrew http://www.therowboat.com/2009/08/journalism-as-an-encounter/comment-page-1/#comment-6565 Andrew Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:41:40 +0000 http://www.therowboat.com/?p=1170#comment-6565 But do you really think it would be ethical for you to continue the conversation offline? Wouldn't that compromise your integrity? ;) When people question whether "objectivity" is a worthy goal, they often argue that it's a vanishing horizon -- we can't get "objectivity," so why try? I agree with this argument, but I think Courtney's strategy is more salient: she points out ways in which, because all perspectives are already contingent on so many pre-existing factors, a voice that pretends to be ahistorical can actually be less truthful, less "objective," than a collaborative voice. In other words, nice article. But do you really think it would be ethical for you to continue the conversation offline? Wouldn’t that compromise your integrity? ;)

When people question whether “objectivity” is a worthy goal, they often argue that it’s a vanishing horizon — we can’t get “objectivity,” so why try? I agree with this argument, but I think Courtney’s strategy is more salient: she points out ways in which, because all perspectives are already contingent on so many pre-existing factors, a voice that pretends to be ahistorical can actually be less truthful, less “objective,” than a collaborative voice. In other words, nice article.

]]> By: Courtney Martin http://www.therowboat.com/2009/08/journalism-as-an-encounter/comment-page-1/#comment-6543 Courtney Martin Tue, 11 Aug 2009 20:47:07 +0000 http://www.therowboat.com/?p=1170#comment-6543 Wow Nathan, thank you so much for this thoughtful response to my piece. I wish it could be published side by side with the original column, as it expands on so much of what I touched on, deepens it, and problematizes it in a way that I think is really important (so meta here, huh?). I love this idea of journalism as an encounter. The danger of devolving into public relations is a big one, and that's why I was really clear with my subjects--from the beginning--that I intended to write compassionately critical pieces of them. Sometimes that was easy--my subjects had a strong sense of self, and had even come up with the critiques I was making of themselves. Somethings it was thornier. One subject and I decided not to move forward on publishing her profile because we couldn't find common ground. Anyway, would love to continue the conversation on and off line. Thanks again. Wow Nathan, thank you so much for this thoughtful response to my piece. I wish it could be published side by side with the original column, as it expands on so much of what I touched on, deepens it, and problematizes it in a way that I think is really important (so meta here, huh?).
I love this idea of journalism as an encounter. The danger of devolving into public relations is a big one, and that’s why I was really clear with my subjects–from the beginning–that I intended to write compassionately critical pieces of them. Sometimes that was easy–my subjects had a strong sense of self, and had even come up with the critiques I was making of themselves. Somethings it was thornier. One subject and I decided not to move forward on publishing her profile because we couldn’t find common ground.
Anyway, would love to continue the conversation on and off line. Thanks again.

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