Factual relativism in the public discourse
In this study we examined the factual relativism phenomenon (discussed above in more detail) in the public discourse. We used qualitative research method (content analysis) including both pro-government and independent (mostly leftist) media sources.
In this paper, we have tried to give an overview of the increasingly prevalent factual relativism and the narratives that circulate in public discourse. While in the government-controlled media the emphasis is mainly on criticising what they call the ‘independent-objective media’ from several angles, in the leftist/critical press we found narratives of questioning objective reality, complementing this. The main narratives in the pro-government mediums:
- The independent mediums cannot be independent: first, because it is market-based, second because it is written by people who represent some value, so what they write is definitely subjective. Therefore, they should rather admit what values they represent – as they do. However, these values, which are represented by the ‘independent objective press’, serve the interests of the Western, Euro-Atlantic powers, not the domestic interest, which is a serious problem.
- In addition, the left dominates the Hungarian press, which even by entering the social media, those close to the government are not fully balanced.
- Furthermore, the journalists of the “independent objective press” exude a sense of superiority, which sometimes goes hand in hand with censorship, where the role of social and other platforms and that of the journalist are blurred. Another related topic of censorship is fact-checking, which in their interpretation functions as a thought police. Finally, there is often talk of a so-called ‘background power’ controlling the ‘independent objective press’.
- Another theme was that “independent objective” journalists act as political activists – instead of journalists.
In the independent mediums we found slightly different arguments (and there were much less articles in this topic).
- There is no objective reality in the sense that positivist science assumes. This idea, classically and more radically postmodern, is closely linked to the critique of the “West” and science, which is always subordinated to politics or economic interests (and therefore cannot be objective). Another type of argument is that criticism drives society and knowledge forward, so nothing should ever be taken as objective.
- The narrative found in the government-controlled press that journalism cannot be independent appeared here as well – but the articles here are written with a different slant.
- And finally, on the issue of fact-checking, a similar line of thought to that of those close to the government came up, namely the issue of fact-checkers.
In the paper, which can be read here in full length (in Hungarian) the authors assess most of these statements from a critical point of view.
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