The recent move by IBN7 Managing Editor, Ashutosh to join the Aam Aadmi Party caused a serious question to be raised on a point of media ethics: Should journalists publicly declare their political affiliations?

Journalists come in various hues. The question is of little relevance to reporters covering sports and Bollywood, for example. They can put it at the bottom of each report, or end a cricket match summary by saying, “Thank you for speaking to us, Mr Dhoni…this is your friendly neighbourhood sports reporter and AAP/Bharatiya Janata Party/Congress supporter signing off”. It would probably evoke wonder and laughter and a few queries about his or her mental health.

The issue of political affiliation becomes important only for those journalists directly involved in covering politics. This includes the reporters covering political parties, the chiefs of reporting bureaus, political editors and editors.

Within this framework, every person would have constraints which would limit their capacities to push their personal agendas. For example, even if the reporter covering BJP is a Congress supporter or vice versa, she would still have to report the news stories that appear in rival papers and channels, because otherwise it would count as a missed story, and their boss would haul them up. That is why the media operates like a herd: no one wants to miss a story.

After the reporter has filed the news report, the chief of bureau and political editor clear it. Unless both of them have the same political leaning as the reporter, they would be unlikely to let a hugely slanted copy through.

Of course, it is possible that one of them may have a strong political leaning, and introduce a slant instead of taking it out. No matter; there are still layers of checks and balances at the editing desk. Someone, usually a sub editor, edits every report. That person may notice that there is a slant in a copy, and call for an explanation or clarification. Or not.

If the head of the editing desk also does not spot the slant, and the editor does not check the copy (editors cannot check all stories as there is not enough time before deadline), it will appear in print. With a slant. At that stage, the editor will probably see it even if she had missed it earlier. The desk head and political editor will have some explaining to do, unless the editor is also biased.

The reason I am describing the process in such detail is because it is important to know that there are at least five layers of checks and balances in the system. Unless all five people are biased in the same way, it is very hard for a deeply biased copy to make it into print. It may happen once or twice by mistake, but it cannot happen again and again.

If there is any continued bias, then it is probably just a result of the editorial stance of the organisation. The editorial stance is hardly a state secret. It is clearly reflected in the newspaper’s editorials, which are published every day.

Thus, The Hindu is favoured by people of Leftist bent because it reflects their concerns and worldviews in its coverage and its editorials. The Pioneer is Rightwing, and its publisher and editor is a spokesman of the BJP. The Hindustan Times is Centrist. And so on.

This is what matters. The preferences of cogs in the journalistic wheel really count for very little.

Journalists are citizens too – and as citizens have a right to vote. This means they are entitled to hold political opinions. The ballot is meant to be secret. There is no reason to take away this right, which every citizen has, from one class of citizens.

At the same time, journalists in their professional work have a duty to be fair. Perfect objectivity may be impossible, but impartiality in reporting stories is certainly achievable. If political passions get in the way of balanced and impartial journalism, it is best for the journalist concerned to quit his or her job and join the party he favours.

There is however insufficient justification to ask all journalists to publicly declare their political preferences.

The writer is Consulting Editor with The Asian Age, Mumbai. These are his personal views and not those of any organisation.