Margaret Sullivan of The Washington Post, August 16, 2017, argues that in its drive to appear even-handed, during the 2016 presidential election, the press too often equated Hillary Clinton’s failings with those of Donald Trump, a false equivalency. Trump’s recent attempt to find equivalence between the white supremacists and the leftest opposition further highlights the perils of even-handed reporting. Sullivan writes that reporters need to worry less about “objectivity” and concentrate on truth-telling wherever that might lead.
It is important to present information on various sides of an issue but not to give all sides equal weight. In the scientific realm, investigators weigh evidence supporting different theories and concentrate on those with the most evidence behind them. It is essential to always weigh the evidence. The global warming issue provides an instance of the pitfalls of going for balance in reporting. (Understanding Science, August 17, 2017)
The balance problem relates to the ultimate crisis over the place of truth in the political arena. If politicians constantly line up false claims with no nod to facts, the democratic process becomes muddied and stymied with dire consequences for the country. (The Guardian, October 13, 2017, by Bob Garfield)