Last updated on Mar 15, 2024

How can you use historical context to add depth to a story without sacrificing objectivity?

Historical context can enrich your stories by providing background, perspective, and relevance to current events. However, as a journalist, you also need to maintain your objectivity and avoid imposing your own interpretations or biases on the facts. How can you balance these two goals and use history to enhance your storytelling without compromising your credibility? Here are some tips to help you.

1 Choose relevant sources

When you research historical sources, look for reliable and diverse ones that can support your main point or angle. Avoid sources that are too biased, outdated, or incomplete. Use primary sources, such as documents, interviews, or eyewitness accounts, whenever possible. Secondary sources, such as books, articles, or documentaries, can also be useful, but make sure to check their accuracy and credibility. Cite your sources clearly and transparently, and acknowledge any limitations or gaps in the information.

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Jorge O. Avilés

Intercultural Communicator / Lecturer / Moderator / Trainer
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The key to historical context validating a story goes hand in hand with the diversity of the sources one uses. Quoting only partial historical accounts, or politically charged examples might do exactly the opposite of validating. Diverse, objective historical records support the story from more than one angle.

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Maheen Ghous

Law Student at Ziauddin University - Research Analyst at PILAP - Avid Writer & Researcher - Former Publishing Secretary (ZLSA)
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Rectification is an important use of historical context, which cannot be departed in storytelling because it provides dynamics of a story and reality of bygone times to the readers. In essence, rectification through historical context is not merely a stylistic choice but a fundamental aspect of storytelling that ensures authenticity, awareness, critical engagement, and ethical responsibility. Departing from it risks undermining the very essence of the narrative and divorcing it from historical truth.

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David Huttner

Candidate for US President in 2024
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This is a very odd question. Statements with no historical basis are the rantings of crazy people. Who have you been hanging with? Westerners became the craziest of the crazies due to our ultra-violent prehistory. Western ruling classes have made things still worse by censoring materialist philosophy, which was articulated by German intellectuals. Why German? Probably because they were the western-most people able to observe this distinction and describe it.

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Edward Bent

Writer & Educator
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In my experience, researching historial sources is the only way to provide comparative information on products, technology, utilization, ideas etc. that give context. Contextualization is very important but often lacking because the research and reflection require greater effort and expenditure of time than writers and editors rarely enjoy. It also gives an advantage to older persons with substantial experience in a determinate sector because they are able to ask the right questions. This latter aspect is the key to getting the right replies, either in the form of interviews, presentations or writing articles. Today, it is seriously lacking in the media.

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Nicola Burkinshaw

Private Tutor of History and English
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This question is an excellent demonstration of the false benefits of using Artificial Intelligence in education. It SOUNDS impressive, doesn't it? But break it down and it becomes clear that it is completely meaningless. The terms have not been defined; there is no clear purpose to the question. What sort of story are you talking about? Why should a story HAVE objectivity? What are you actually trying to achieve here? The more we use AI the more of this nonsensical gibberish will appear, the more credulous students will assume that it is meaningful and real and will start to emulate it. Step away from the computer; go read a book; go talk to real people and for goodness sake don't indulge this pseudo-intellectual claptrap.

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2 Provide context, not commentary

When you write about historical events or trends, focus on providing context, not commentary. Explain how the past relates to the present, but do not insert your own opinions or judgments. For example, instead of saying "The civil rights movement was a heroic struggle for justice", say "The civil rights movement challenged the legal and social barriers that discriminated against African Americans". Use neutral and factual language, and avoid emotional or sensationalized terms. Let the facts speak for themselves, and let the readers draw their own conclusions.

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Kym Matthews

Curator at Break O'Day Council
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This is usually where historical articles and journalism diverge. Journalism is usually based on commentary whilst historical articles must rely on sources, primary documents if possible, then secondary if need be.

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3 Compare and contrast

One way to use historical context effectively is to compare and contrast different situations or perspectives. For example, if you are writing about a current political crisis, you can compare and contrast it with a similar or different one in the past. How are they similar or different? What factors or forces influenced them? What were the outcomes or consequences? How do they affect the present or the future? Comparing and contrasting can help you highlight the similarities and differences, the continuities and changes, and the complexities and nuances of your topic.

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4 Use examples and anecdotes

Another way to use historical context creatively is to use examples and anecdotes that illustrate your point or capture your audience's attention. For example, if you are writing about a current environmental issue, you can use an example or anecdote from the past that shows how people or nature responded to a similar or different challenge. How did they cope or adapt? What were the costs or benefits? What lessons can be learned? Examples and anecdotes can help you make your story more concrete and relatable, and show the human or ecological impact of your topic.

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5 Be accurate and ethical

Finally, when you use historical context, be accurate and ethical. Do not distort or manipulate the facts to fit your narrative or agenda. Do not cherry-pick or omit relevant information that contradicts or complicates your point. Do not plagiarize or misquote your sources. Do not offend or harm your subjects or sources. Respect the historical truth and the historical actors, and follow the ethical standards and codes of conduct of your profession. By being accurate and ethical, you can use historical context to add depth to your story without sacrificing objectivity.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How can you use historical context to add depth to a story without sacrificing objectivity?

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1 Choose relevant sources

2 Provide context, not commentary

3 Compare and contrast

4 Use examples and anecdotes

5 Be accurate and ethical

6 Here’s what else to consider

Journalism

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