49th ABS Annual Conference

In an era of deepening political polarization and extreme partisanship, journalism is in crisis. Some argue that journalists must adopt the role of a “resistance” against illiberalism. In contrast, others demand a rejection of elites who use “progressive” media framing to perpetuate a toxic cultural agenda. The place of fact-based journalism—objectivity—is now the field's most pressing debate. The sacred writings of the Baha’i Faith address these issues by offering a new tenet for journalists, one that outlines both the mission of news gathering and the motivations behind reporting. Exploring these passages may provide a roadmap for how journalism can serve humanity's best interests.