Symmetrism in Polish Media Discourse in the Light of the Concept of Objectivity
Symmetrism in Polish Media Discourse in the Light of the Concept of Objectivity

Summary/Abstract: The article is an attempt to theoretically structure and scientifically diagnose the phenomenon of symmetrism, an ideological attitude of commentators of political life, which consists in seeking identicality in the actions of the Law and Justice (PIS – Prawo i Sprawiedliwość) and Civic Platform (PO – Platforma Obywatelska) parties. At the same time, it aims to place the phenomenon within the current of normative guidelines of journalism, particularly objectivity, as well as the changing roles and tottering identity of journalism resulting from the transformation of the Polish media system. It redefines and analyses symmetrism as a communication phenomenon, reviews discourse strategies through the prism of factors defining journalism, its actors, models and rhetorical practices in a hybrid communication system. A media content analysis was conducted to examine the mechanisms of transmission of biased arguments and influence-building used by symmetrists and their opponents. Its formal and axiological results were applied to a function model and a bimodal opinion distribution scheme. One important conclusion of the research is that the symmetrist principle of “maintaining balance” between opposing positions is not a norm derived from the doctrine of objectivity, nor is it indicative of professionalism. The principle of “equal distance” does not respect the rules of intersubjective communicability and testability, assuming that facts can and should be discovered independently of individual perspectives.

• Details
• Contents