Firsts Quote by W. Eugene Smith
“The first word I would remove from the folklore of journalism is the word objective.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The New York Times, 1965
The quote argues that claiming objectivity in journalism is a myth that hinders truth‑seeking.
In simple terms: Objectivity is a false promise in news.
Key Takeaway
Question and disclose biases.
Themes
journalism
truth
objectivity
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
analytical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- newsrooms
- media training
- editorial meetings
Key Concepts
media ethics
subjectivity
bias awareness
Questions to Reflect On
- How does claiming objectivity affect trust?
- What alternatives improve accuracy?
A Different Perspective
Objectivity can still be a useful heuristic if transparently applied.
![“Since I worked with Danny Boyle before on Slumdog Millionaire, we have great success and everything. So, when I first got the script and the screenplay of Simon (Beaufoy) and I was reading it, even before the shoot, some kind of sounds came into my mind and I put some stuff [down] and sent it to…” quote by A. R. Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/573/a-r-rahman-4481_cutting_since-i-worked-with-danny-boyle-before-o_539.jpg)
