#11: Objectivity, Moral Clarity and the Role of Journalism in a Free Society

Award-winning science journalist and forthcoming author of the book "Lady Anatomy" //www.rachelegross.com/ (Rachel E. Gross) joins the podcast to discuss the changing landscape of journalism, including the perverse incentives created by a primarily digital model, whether journalists should strive for “objectivity” or “moral clarity” in today’s hyper-partisan, “post-truth” environment, the ways that social media drives division and conspiracy thinking, forgotten heroes of reproductive health and the anatomy of the clitoris, the recent J.K. Rowling controversy, cancel culture, increasing pressure for ideological conformity on the American left, and other fascinating topics. You can get more of Rachel's witty, provocative and insightful personality on //twitter.com/rachelegross (her Twitter. ) Background reading: //www.economist.com/books-and-arts/2020/07/16/how-objectivity-in-journalism-became-a-matter-of-opinion (Moral clarity vs. Objectivity) (The Economist) //www.nytimes.com/2020/06/23/opinion/objectivity-black-journalists-coronavirus.html (A Reckoning over Objectivity, led by black journalists) (New York Times) //www.newyorker.com/news/the-future-of-democracy/how-can-the-press-best-serve-democracy (How can the press best serve a democratic society?) (The New Yorker) //www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-clitoris-uncovered-an-intimate-history/ (The Clitoris, Uncovered: An Intimate History) (Rachel Gross, Scientific American) //www.bbc.com/future/article/20200526-dr-gisella-perl-the-auschwitz-doctor-who-saved-lives (The Auschwitz doctor who couldn't 'do no harm') (Rachel Gross, BBC News) //www.bbc.com/future/article/20200103-the-female-scientist-who-changed-human-fertility-forever (The female scientist who changed human fertility forever) (Rachel Gross, BBC News) //www.nytimes.com/2017/06/01/opinion/when-the-left-turns-on-its-own.html (When the Left Turns On Its Own) (Bari Weiss, New York Times) //www.nytimes.com/2020/01/31/podcasts/the-daily/2020-election.html (Journalism Lessons from 2016 )(The Daily - The New York Times) //www.npr.org/2020/04/27/845559713/starving-the-watchdogs-who-foots-the-bill-when-newspapers-disappear (Starving The Watchdogs: Who Foots The Bill When Newspapers Disappear )(Hidden Brain / NPR) Support this podcast