Screw Objectivity! ABC's Josh Elliott: 'I'm Proud to Work at a Place That Believes in Advocacy Journalism!'

March 26th, 2012 5:04 PM

Sometimes journalists just come right out and say it: Appearing at the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) Awards, Saturday, ABC News anchor Josh Elliott gushed over media subjectivity: "I'm proud to work at a place that believes in advocacy journalism!"

Elliott, who reads the news for Good Morning America, fawned over the liberal gay rights group: "I will never be in a braver room than this!" The reporter seemed to be under the impression that, so long as the cause is good enough, objectivity isn't needed. Elliott highlighted his own late, gay father: "I took from him the importance of being an advocate for those who need it; and I took from him what it means to be a man."

Elliott isn't the first journalist to make such a determination. In July of 2010, then-MSNBC anchor Contessa Brewer, who was supposed to be an objective journalist, lobbied for gay rights at a fund-raiser by night and reported on the topic by day for the cable network.

GLAAD's website explained Elliott's appearance:

On Saturday, ABC news anchor Josh Elliott accepted the GLAAD Media Award in the Outstanding TV Journalism Segment category for "Battle Against Bullying" by ABC World News With Diane Sawyer, a piece about teenager Jamey Rodemeyer who died by suicide last September. Smash’s Megan Hilty was joined by Ted Allen to present the category on stage.