The View from Somewhere
Critical Frequency
Trust in journalists is at an all-time low, but the work of journalism matters more than ever. And traditional “objectivity” may be hurting, rather than helping. All journalists have a view from somewhere, and ”objective” journalism often upholds status quo thinking and reinforces racism, sexism, and transphobia. Host Lewis Raven Wallace was fired from the public radio show Marketplace in 2017 for saying just that. In the years since, Lewis has dug into the history of “objectivity,” who it serves, and who it excludes. The View from Somewhere tells the stories of journalists who have resisted “objectivity” and stood up for justice, and envisions new approaches to truth and integrity in journalism.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Dec 17, 2019 • 37min
Truth and Vietnam
The heyday of “objective” journalism was short-lived—Civil Rights, the women’s movement, and the war in Vietnam all chipped away at it. Lewis Raven Wallace meets two rabble-rousing women reporters who engaged with Vietnam in very different ways, Laura Palmer and Kerry Gruson. Both walked away with the conclusion that serving the truth is full of gray areas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 3, 2019 • 28min
Marvel Cooke, a Journalist for Working People
Whose voices and stories have been lost because they were pushed out of journalism altogether? Marvel Cooke was a groundbreaking Black woman journalist who reported on labor in the 1940s and organized a union with the Newspaper Guild in the 1930s, is one of countless storytellers nearly forgotten by history because they were too radical. Lewis Raven Wallace talks to playwright Jacqueline Lawton and editor Carla Murphy about their experiences as Black women rediscovering Cooke’s story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 19, 2019 • 27min
Gay Reporter Wants to Be an Activist
Queer and trans journalist Lewis Raven Wallace is on a mission to find other reporters like him, who were fired or persecuted for advocating for their communities. He finds Sandy Nelson, a former Tacoma News-Tribune reporter who waged a seven-year battle for her rights as a worker, and a lesbian, socialist journalist. He also learns about the first reporter to ever be fired for not being “objective,” back in the 1930s. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 5, 2019 • 32min
The Half Truth About Lynching
New York Times Magazine reporter Nikole Hannah-Jones argues that all journalism is a form of activism. Host Lewis Raven Wallace talks to Hannah-Jones, plus historians David Mindich and Mia Bay, about the enduring influence of Ida B. Wells and the early Black press, who uncovered stories about lynching the white press was unwilling to tell. They explore how early “objective” news failed in its coverage of lynching, and how “objectivity” can fall short in coverage of racial violence now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 22, 2019 • 37min
How Black Lives Matter Changed the News
Before 2014, police killings of unarmed Black people weren’t a huge news story. Washington Post reporter Wesley Lowery, Ferguson activist Johnetta Elzie, and host Lewis Raven Wallace look at how media reacted after police killed Michael Brown in 2014, and how #BlackLivesMatter changed the news. Wallace and Lowery reflect on how “objective” outlets failed to cover Black death at the hands of police until activists forced their hand. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
16 snips
Oct 15, 2019 • 23min
The View from Nowhere
Public radio journalist Lewis Raven Wallace shares his bold stance that objectivity in journalism is a myth. He discusses the impact of personal ideologies on perceived truths and critiques the media's portrayal of events like the Women's March. The conversation dives into how journalists can navigate ethical dilemmas and maintain integrity in a landscape rife with misinformation and societal challenges. Wallace emphasizes the need for a values-based approach to reporting, especially in confronting issues like racism and transphobia.
Sep 27, 2019 • 1min
Welcome to The View From Somewhere
Introducing The View from Somewhere! All journalists have a view from somewhere, and ”objective” journalism often upholds status quo thinking and reinforces racism, sexism, and transphobia. This show tells the stories of journalists who have resisted “objectivity” and stood up for justice, and envisions new approaches to truth and integrity in journalism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
