Advocacy journalism
Advocacy journalism is reporting that takes a side to promote a social or political goal. It often rejects the idea that journalism can be completely neutral, partly because advertising and sponsorship can influence coverage. Advocates say a mix of outlets with different viewpoints helps the public and that advocacy can work like muckraking—exposing problems and pushing for change.
In 2000, journalist Sue Careless spoke to the Canadian Association of Journalists about standards for advocacy journalism. She criticized mainstream media for bias and conflicts of interest and argued that independent, alternative publications can better serve the public interest through greater independence, focus, and access.
Advocacy has deep historical roots. In 19th‑century America, many newspapers were partisan, openly promoting particular political views. The Crisis (founded in 1910 by the NAACP) carried on this tradition, following Freedom’s Journal, which began in 1827 as the first African‑American owned and operated newspaper. The Suffragist (1913) promoted women’s suffrage. Early 20th‑century muckrakers—Ida Tarbell, Ida B. Wells, Nellie Bly, Lincoln Steffens, Upton Sinclair, George Seldes, and I. F. Stone—are often seen as the professional ancestors of today’s advocacy journalists.
Today, advocacy journalism spans the 20th and 21st centuries. Journalists may reject pure objectivity for several reasons, including the view that complete impartiality is hard to achieve and that bias—whether political, personal, or systemic—creeps into reporting. Most people accept that objective truth exists, but many agree it’s impossible to report on it in a perfectly value‑free way. As a result, all journalism carries some degree of advocacy, even if only unintentionally, while many aim to minimize bias and use reporting to inform the public and encourage change.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 19:16 (CET).