Sometimes, It's Almost Objective

Photo by G. Crescoli

This article by Brooke Singman for Fox News was almost a well reported article covering an event, but lacked objectivity in the headline. The actual body of the article itself is full of check-able quotes and the removal of herself in the writing.

This is all about what happened and what major players said what. She quotes Trump multiple times as well as Press Secretary Sarah Sanders. Additionally, she states facts without opinion like when she informs the reader that Jordin Sparks, a former American Idol contestant, sang the national anthem.

The only error is in her headline here:

Trump calls on NFL to outlaw anthem protests, blasts Cowboys for kneeling

Using a descriptor such a blast with such a negative connotation is not one that speak objectivity. A replacement such as responds, rebuts, or anything else more neutral would've been far more acceptable. The headline, after all, is one of the most important parts. 

It's the readers first impression on the article. Instead of letting the reader formulate an opinion off the quotes she uses (which it's easy to create one after reading the article), she incites a certain perspective within the first 10 words before even opening the article. 

There's an old saying that where the head goes the body will follow, and in the context of an audience seeing the headline and then the story, it very well is true. So, although this piece she wrote was objective itself, the headline should be as well - because it's just as important.