What do we really mean by 'objectivity' in journalism? | Sofia Barnett | TEDxBrownU
Is objectivity in journalism a myth? Reporter Ellie Barnett challenges the traditional standards of “neutrality” in media, arguing that fairness, not false balance, should be the guiding principle. Drawing from her work with major outlets and firsthand experiences in the field, she outlines how transparency, inclusion, and reader engagement can rebuild trust in news. This talk is both a critique and a call to action—for journalists and audiences alike to rethink how stories are told. Sofia Barnett is a New England journalist and senior at Brown University studying history and English nonfiction. Sofia has reported on Native American communities, reproductive and public health, state and higher education, and breaking news for a handful of newspapers, including The Dallas Morning News, The Boston Globe, The Providence Journal, and The New York Post.In her free time, Sofia enjoys freelancing for publications like WIRED, Teen Vogue, and The Daily Beast, where she writes about technology and culture. This summer, Sofia will join The Minnesota Star Tribune’s News and Politics desk.Sofia is a member of The New York Times Corps class of 2025 and a proud alum of the Princeton Summer Journalism Program for low-income high school journalists. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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