Final answer:
Objectivity is the most prominent value in American journalism, representing a standard that emphasizes unbiased and factual reporting, which rose to prominence in the early 20th century.
Step-by-step explanation:
One of the most prominent values in American journalism is objectivity. This principle emerged in the early twentieth century and is characterized by reporters and journalists who strive to present the facts without bias, personal opinions, or sensationalism. Objectivity gained prominence as a journalistic standard with the efforts of figures such as Adolph Ochs of The New York Times, who encouraged reporters to focus solely on the facts. Prior to this, journalism was often more clearly aligned with political parties (partisan journalism) or focused on sensational stories to drive sales (yellow journalism). Today, while objective journalism is still the goal, a rise in interpretive reporting where journalists analyze and interpret the news can also be observed.