Final answer:
Journalists use third person point of view primarily to keep their reporting objective and to establish credibility with their audience. By presenting facts in a neutral manner, they build trust and ensure that their information is perceived as reliable and unbiased.
Step-by-step explanation:
Why Journalists Use Third Person Point of View
Journalists often utilize the third person point of view in their writing to achieve objectivity and credibility. Objective journalism is highly valued in the media industry as it ensures that facts are reported without bias or personal influence. This approach aims to keep their articles objective, allowing readers to trust that they are receiving accurate and untainted information. Additionally, using a third person perspective enhances the credibility of the articles. An objective stance, characterized by presentation of facts, statistics, and examples in neutral language, builds credibility, or ethos, with readers. Moreover, by avoiding personal pronouns and value judgments, journalists can diminish personal presence and bias, thus supporting the focus on the subject being reported.
The Role of Credibility in Journalism
Credibility is crucial in journalism; it creates a trust relationship between the news agency and its audience. For instance, when a public figure like a news anchor loses credibility, this can lead to a loss of audience and the integrity of the information provided is compromised. This was the case for Brian Williams of NBC when he made false statements about his experiences.
In response to the original question, the reasons journalists use third person point of view are to keep their articles objective and to make their articles more credible, so the correct answer is both a and b. This practice helps maintain a professional and unbiased approach to reporting, even though there are instances when journalists include analysis or interpretation, known as interpretive reporting, which is different from purely objective reporting.