the woes of relativism in journalism

Being part of a college newspaper could be one of the bigger tests of self-esteem. Having your words in ink for all your peers to read and critique can be nerve-racking, especially when they stir up controversy. As a former opinion editor for my student newspaper, I remember always being a little nervous whenever the paper was distributed. Not only were my thoughts open to the public, but I also had to take responsibility for the opinions of four or five other student writers.

It took me several issues to gain the confidence to write and assign hard-hitting stories on issues like birth control and abortion, global health, political parties, public policies, sexual abuse and campus affairs. However, essential to the journalism education is learning how to take a stand and stay standing in the midst of opposition and criticism. No lecture or book can prepare a budding journalist for his or her first dose of disparagement.

Unfortunately, I’ve found my student newspaper is currently not providing such an education to its journalism students. Controversial subjects like gay marriage, race relations, party politics, foreign policy, gender issues—all hot topics in light of this year’s presidential elections—are absent from the opinion pages. According to inside sources, the paper has intentionally shied away from such subjects, particularly proposition 8, because the editors feel they cannot ask students to take an unpopular stance on issues that may result in negative backlash from the student body.

Beyond protecting student writers, editors have also noted self-censorship for the sake of self-preservation. They expressed concern that if sections were too controversial, the university administration may force censorship, as seen in other student newspapers like APU rival Biola University’s The Chimes. Because of a few inappropriate and touchy articles, The Chimes is required to submit their copy for staff review before going to print.

However, one look at the opinion pages of The Chimes and it’s clear that their mandated review has not kept the paper from covering hard-hitting issues. The Opinion section boasts headlines like “What if the Right is wrong?”, “The reasons behind ‘No-bama’”, and “Eugenics, systematic genocide and President-elect Barack Obama.” To be fair, APU's The Clause has touched on issues like pornography, women in leadership, religion and science, and the presidential elections. However, approach is everything. By the end of many articles, the writers seem to have all but retracted her or his original opinion.

So who or is what is to blame? While the opinion editor sure is at fault for coddling her writers, I cannot help but think it goes deeper. My generation is a generation of relativists. We’re quick to condemn intolerance and slow to judge anyone. Those, in and of themselves, are great qualities. However, has relativism begun to taint Generation Y’s opinion writing?

I often find myself writing a “no judgment” clause in the midst of my columns and editorials. I’m quick to remind my readers that my way may not be the right way. To offend anyone but the close-minded folk would be so “intolerant” of me! But what is the point of living in a free society if we walk around with our tails in between our legs in fear that our beliefs may cause offense?

Maybe this aversion to oppose others comes from the way we were parented. Many of my generation grew up with “helicopter” parents—the ones that bully our coaches into putting us in the game or confront the mothers of our archenemies. We grew up with the desire, or burden, to please Mom and Dad because they poured all their energy and resources into our success.

Or maybe it’s because in the midst of our human rights campaigns and protests, we’ve come to believe that everyone deserves the right to say what they want, love who they want, and worship how they want. Ironically, though, relativism actually ends up nullifying the concept of justice because relativism says there are no standards that are absolute. And my generation fights for justice on the basis that it is a value that should apply to everyone.

Regardless of the root of paradoxical relativism, it’s hurting the expression of ideas. By shying away from offending, the student newspaper is surrendering its freedoms of speech. It is a sad day for those of us who daily enjoy First Amendment rights when relativism begins to infringe on the freedom of ideas and beliefs. Students, both writers and readers of news and opinion, need to begin to take a stand or the healthy dialogue that comes from disagreements will begin to whither on this campus. And that should begin with the leadership of campus opinion editors.