Martin Bell's 'Journalism Of Attachment'

Journalism of detachment

Introduction

In this essay I will discuss Martin Bell’s notion of ‘the journalism of attachment’ and try to pitch it against traditional values of journalism, such as objectivity and impartiality. I will acknowledge some of the criticisms that have been raised against those values, but I will argue that instead of replacing them with something new we should try to re-evaluate them and reconsider how we practice them.

The main body of the essay is divided into four parts called True journalism, Good journalism, Pragmatic journalism, and Moral journalism. In each part I will discuss a different aspect of the presented issue.

Before moving on I would like to acknowledge what I see as the main limitation of this essay: it is partly
When someone argues for journalism of attachment, the implication is that this approach produces better journalism. When I argue for detached journalism I believe it produces better journalism. But what is it exactly that good journalism should do? What are the priorities? To inform? To be the watchdog? To educate? To advocate for a cause?

When I read Bell’s ‘Journalism of Attachment’ it seemed to me that his version of good journalism is not simply attached to the victims, it advocates their cause, it calls for action, it urges the audiences to do something. I don’t have an issue with that approach per se, but I do take issue with someone adopting that approach and calling it journalism, it’s not.

Since the invention of printing several forms of public communication have evolved, and each has its own purposes, communicative goals, and intentions. A fantasy novel I am reading these days does not inform me about recent events, does not try to sell me any other product, does not urge me to do anything. As far as I am concerned, its only purpose is to entertain me. When I want to be informed I read