The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
Bloggers and blogging have been at the forefront for quite a while now. The quality of blog writing certainly doesn’t have to be inferior to journalistic writing. However, objectivity, fact reporting and the integrity of the writing are still critical.
From the angle of objectivity
Interestingly, the success of social media (which includes blogs) is based on successful relationships. Of course, Successful relationships can’t exist without an emotional connection. This seems contradictory to objectivity. However, it is not actually impossible to affect a reader emotionally and still not surrender your objectivity as a writer. If you write your story effectively enough, you will succeed at touching your readers on a level that makes them feel something. Journalism should never be so objective that it totally loses its humanism. Otherwise, you may as well consider the writing a report rather than a story.
The right to write
Nowadays, you don’t have to be an established journalist (or any other type of writer) to be able to write, publish and share your content. The idea that the public is willing to read what other people write no matter what they happen to do for a living is extremely widespread. People are much more accepting than they ever were before. Of course, there are many different levels of involvement with which “regular” people can become engaged. In fact, there are many times when a blog writer is more accepted and his work is taken seriously more readily than a journalist’s writing. The blog writer is often regarded as one of the people and the readers can relate more easily to what he or she is writing, thinking and feeling.
Acquiring the cutting edge
In all writing (blogging and journalism), you would never want to write about old news. If you do that, people won’t have any interest in reading your content because it doesn’t interest them anymore. However, bloggers and journalists both need to grab the story before anyone else has a chance to get there. When it comes to the structure of your writing, you need to answer a series of questions on any given topic. You need to answer what, where, who, how and why. If you can cover all of those on a cutting edge topic, you will succeed at getting your readers to read what you are publishing. Of course, in your great effort to get there more quickly than someone else, you also need to make sure that your content is accurate and precise. Fact checking must be a part of what you are doing.
Different types of writing
There is no question that blog content and journalistic content are not exactly the same thing. However, that doesn’t mean that they don’t both possess their own form of integrity. For one, bloggers are able to accomplish a great deal (research, writing, etc) from the comfort of their own desk whereas journalists need to be physically in the middle of whatever they are writing about. That is just the nature of what they do and the extent to which they need to be taken seriously.
Blogging that leads to journalism
There are many people who believe that blogging is a stepping stone to journalism. There is possibly something to that theory, however, it is not always the case. If someone has never written before and he or she gets started by writing blogs, the skills that are needed to be a professional journalist can be acquired that way. However, blog writing and journalistic writing are definitely not one and the same. Being a journalist and the approach to writing at times requires a very different skill set.
Conclusion
Bloggers and journalists each hold a tremendous amount of value and their contributions are vast. Of course, they are not interchangeable and it is important to be able to take what you can from each and apply it to your content in an appropriate way that will help to improve the content that you are sharing with your readers.
We are pleased to provide you with the insightful comments contained herein. For a free assessment of your online presence, let’s have coffee.
Via LinkedIn Groups
• Group: MyVerizon
• Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
I think you are over thinking this, let me explain why. Bloggers do not have to be objective, nor do they have to be correct, blogging is just that it is not journalism. Granted it would be a nice thing if bloggers would have the ethics and integrity as journalist should, but let’s not confuse what we want, with what should be, and definitely not with what is. I am a blogger, and blogging by nature is biased, because it is one person’s view point. While a journalist should strive to mitigate bias from their work. Do I believe bloggers should be held to the same standard as journalist? As far as accuracy, and presenting unbiased work that would be a nice thing, but in reality, no, because they are not the same. In my blog I try to present an accurate view of things, but as far as bias, I admit to my blog being biased to my way of thinking, but that is as it should be, if a person does not think I am accurate on a point of view they have the right of challenge, but as to my bias, that’s mine and mine alone.
Posted by Henry McKelvey, MIS
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Books and Writers
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
One of the main differences is job qualification. Anyone can blog. Journalists working for any media corporation have to have some basic skills and education. Journalists stake their professional career on what they produce – its accuracy, quality of writing, depth of fact gathering, newness, etc.
Bloggers stake nothing but their reputation – aside from the chance of lawsuit over outright defamation or lies. Online rep is far more variable than rep within an industry, which can make or break you.
Bloggers also seldom have the tools and resources to do investigative work. And even if they do, they may not be treated the same as reporters when doing a story.
Blogging is a great tool for writers to stay active, to promote themselves, to comment on events and issues, and to offer alternatives to corporate media. I blog, as well as write for clients and publishers.
Blogging isn’t inferior – but some bloggers may be. There’s no test for talent or ability online. Many traditional media have added blogging as tools to expand their reach, within the context of their own organization.
Posted by Ian Chadwick
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Group: Informed Ideas For Writers
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
An interesting perspective. One difference you didn’t mention was impartiality, although journalists may be losing their reputation for that. To me a blogger is someone who is proud to have an opinion, while a journalist try to see all sides of an issue. Things get murky when you throw in marketing to target audiences, then you end up with bloggers and commentators masquerading as journalists.
Posted by Jay Hammond
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Open Journalism
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
We should not forget about it:
“There is a “Declaration of Principles on the Conduct of Journalists” that is promulgated by the International Federation of Journalists. It states:
“The journalist shall report only in accordance with facts of which he/she knows the origin.”
Posted by Sergey Maslov
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Music Industry Bloggers
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
So true. In fact a great point. For me, as I ponder the two, blogs can be facts based, fictional, emotion based at time and anecdotal etc. But when I think of journalism; I do think primarty fact based…here’s the catch (yep just gonna say it!) journalism should be fact-based, unbiased, objective and far less emotive than blogging. Before folks here want to lynch me; do I think either is superior a big no from me. Lol as I start running before a lynch job comes baying for my blood! 🙂
Posted by Martina McGrath
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Group: Books and Writers
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
Hello Ian, As you have correctly pointed out, journalists’ reputations depend upon their work being well-researched and accurate, but it also has to be objective and I think this is the stand-out point where blogging differs from journalism. Bloggers offer opinions – journalists present the facts for readers to form their own opinions.
Posted by Carmel Audsley
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Group: The Content Wrangler Community
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
I tend to think of blogging as being a description of the platform, while journalism is more about the reporting and verification process. A blog can certainly be a medium to do that.
Posted by Mary Ellen Slayter
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Group: Tweeple
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
Hi Happy Holidays! Curious why you think journalists are fact based, objective or have integrity? Based on the MSM (which have completely lost their credibility) I would say it is so skewed it has become opinion. I personally don’t trust most of what is said as fact…based on the last election and especially the horrific school shooting where almost all the information in the first day was false. I have gotten most of the correct information from bloggers.
Posted by Charlotte Keiski
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: “Write It Down”-A Website for Writers
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
Quite an interesting conversation piece and a lot of good comments on the page, I see. I blog and therefore, I consider myself a writer, but I do not consider myself a journalist. Totally different animal, but it should be pointed out that the lines are definitely becoming blurred and I often think news stories are written like crap and I often don’t even believe what they say. Too many cooks in the kitchen, eh? I’m no chef, but I still like to stir things up with my wooden spoon occasionally. I can cook up a good tale now and again.
Posted by Cindy Brown
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Group: Small Business Accelerator
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
Bloggers should be held responsible for their own content, without being able to hide behind a corporate curtain. But this does lead to some blogging being self-centred beliefs and opinions backed up by self-selected research to give it credence!
Posted by Debbie Adele Smith
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Group: Small Business Accelerator
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
I’m new to blogging. I’m a technology expert not a writer. I enjoy writing. I’ll cite all of my sources and give them credit. Debbie your right its hard to get away from self centered beliefs and opinions. Can either you or Michael recommend a site that teaches you how to write a professional blog?
Posted by Terry Olgin
Terry,
We have a lot of articles on writing professional blogs on our CompuKol Connection blog (www.compukol.com/blog). Use either the category or tag selector or search for “blogs”. We are also working on a workshop on this topic. If you are in Northern NJ stay tune and we will let you know when it is ready.
Via LinkedIn Groups
• Group: Online Journalism
• Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
The main difference nowadays is that bloggers get to pick what they write about, journalists – especially general reporters – don’t have that luxury. Death knocks, council meetings, accidents, general news. Even the specialists are fairly limited to what they can cover at times. A blogger has a more pick and choose luxury to their post.
Posted by Craig McGill
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• Group: Online Journalism
• Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
Craig, those are good points, as far as beat reporters go; and, to a lesser extent, specialists. And it makes us think about bloggers who, in fact, write for an organization, and the limits put on them, and the independent bloggers who pretty well call their own shots regarding content. But the independent types, who can indeed pick and choose topics, as you point out, would be well advised to adhere to traditional journalistic standards in order to build credibility. Readers will quickly go elsewhere if any semblance of professionalism is not evident.
Posted by Greg McMillan
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• Group: Online Journalism
• Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
Greg, What you say is true about some bloggers who adhere to journalistic standards. Unfortunately the same cannot be said about some journalists, even with their pieces being vetted by fact checkers and editors.
Posted by Ian Shalapata, CD, B.Comm.
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Online Journalism
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
Yeah, Ian, we certainly have seen examples of that lately, haven’t we? With social media, though, now these mistakes (in judgment?) get widespread coverage. Won’t mention any specific names, but perhaps you know what I am talking about.
By Greg McMillan
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Group: Online Journalism
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
Yes sir. They are all too often seen, and while not solely the case, they tend to happen more frequently in those “one horse towns” where there is domination largely by a single newspaper.
By Ian Shalapata, CD, B.Comm.
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Online Journalism
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
Real journalists apply professional practices (eg accuracy ) and observe ethical standards (eg fairness). It doesn’t matter whether they work for a 150 year old newspaper or write a blog. Journalism, as opposed to fantasy or re-cycled media releases, is creative non fiction. It is no longer defined by where you work.
In Australia, the journalists union has recognised this by offering freelance membership to bloggers, who do short courses on ethics and journalism practices. The bloggers then get union defamation insurance, so they can write without fear of litigation.
By Alan Knight
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Online Journalism
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
I have been a professional writer for 50 years and see no difference whatever, except perhaps in tone, between blog writing and any other kindof writing. We still need to know how to spell (a lot of us don’t), check facts, and recognize a story when we see one. Importantly, we need to be our own copy editors; the folks who cut out the fat that makes readable stories boring.
By Bill Fisher
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Online Journalism
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
It is a blurred line between journalism and blogging. There are some journalists who are unethical (journalistically speaking) as are the organizations for which they work. Some bloggers apply high journalistic standards to their writing (many do not).
There are also journalists who blog. Are they suddenly not journalists?
The simple term “blogger” attached to a writter doesn’t make then any less of a journalist just because of the forum. To suggest otherwise, by making blanket statements, is more indicative of “old” journalists trying to justify their schooling and protect their crumbling empires.
By Ian Shalapata, CD, B.Comm.
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Group: Online Journalism
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
We can continue to go round and round this subject. But the gist of the discussion seems to be settling on ethics and standards. There are bloggers who adhere to tried and true journalistic standards. There are bloggers who don’t. Both are still bloggers. But both are not journalists, in the truest sense. Only the blogger that backs up his writing in the traditional way can claim to be a journalist, too. The other kind is more muckraker than anything else.
By Greg McMillan
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Group: Online Journalism
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
@Greg, Allan explained how a blogger can be accredited as a journalist which is acceptable. Greg’s understanding of bloggers are those who write for an organization or maintain a private blog. Well, from the points raised, you are not a ‘real’ journalist as Allan pointed out. Sorry, Greg, your ideas are ideas of a blogger – not a journalist.
By Cris Diaz
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Group: Online Journalism
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
The biggest difference I think is not in the format or the publishing medium, but in the quality of the article. Well written, fact checked pieces are, in my mind, the things that determine whether the writer is a blogger or a journalist.
By Craig Sharp
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Group: Online Journalism
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
Sadly, this is an issue that just goes round and round on this discussion group. Some bloggers can’t understand that what they imagine is not journalism. Meanwhile, some journalists just can’t get their head around the fact that their monopoly on mass communication is gone for good. Meanwhile, other bloggers and mainstream journalists demonstrate daily that what they produce is quality journalism.
I have been a journalist for forty years.
By Alan Knight
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Online Journalism
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
Chris, I will let my CV speak for itself. Even my Linkedin profile should suffice, actually. Craig has hit the nail on the head, by the way. And Alain reiterates some of my earlier points, as well, dealing with quality journalism/blogging. I’m done with this discussion, not interested in dart throwing. Cheers.
By Greg McMillan
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Group: Online Journalism
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
Is the platform/blogsite from which a blog is based important? If so, can anyone suggest a particular site for beginners? Any tip/s on how can we enhance more readership to a blog?
By Dionesio Grava
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Online Journalism
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
I have been labelled a blogger and a journalist by different professionals. I was labelled a blogger because I wrote from a more personal point of view and because I picked and chose what to cover. Bloggers are allowed a certain level of intellectual freedeom that journalists do not have. A veteran journalist may learn from the intellectual freedom allowed in blogging and grow as a reporter from the experience.
By Jacqueline Mary
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Online Journalism
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
I don’t believe much new can be added to the discussion, and we mostly agree on those key points expressed. But what about the readers? Do they know the difference between the two? It seems to me that more and more readers revert to blogs instead of news sites. I suppose the form and the tone appeal to them more, but, unfortunately, I doubt they put much thought into problems such as sources, ethics and effort the writer puts into a piece (or doesn’t). In-depth analyzing and long-reads are a disappearing art for a broader audience. They can’t spare the time and attention for these.
By Kristina Jankovi?
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Group: Online Journalism
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
I am both–a Journalist and a blogger. I love blogging because I write about the subjects I enjoy or feel strongly about, using the style I like. While when I write as a journalist I will be obeying the ‘orders’ of my media establishment owner (the employer) who pays my wages. Someone else is instructing you as a journalist about what to write and how to handle a certain issue. When you write as a journalist you are not totally free and your tools are limited and censored one way or another. There are expectations that you find yourself tied to and a hierarchy pyramid of an organisation that cares about its prophets, advertising revenues and sponsors. The differences are too much to squeeze in a comment.
By Iqbal Tamimi
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Group: Online Journalism
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
It’s all about self-image. Sadly the general public’s opinion of journalists is very different from that of the journo’s themselves. Heard a smart-ass newspaper editor remark the other day that it is all about trust……but who really trusts newspapers or journalists? Most have learned to live with them…. My entire career is full of negative comments about the press from the subjects I have interviewed….
Credibility has nothing to do with the job title, it has to do with you and how you operate. While journo education will be helpful it is not essential. Education for reporter is something of the last thirty or so year, prior to that we learned on the job. Common sense is taught in many places and is an acquired skill.
Conventional journalism has had its fill of stuff-ups and scandals, especially in recent years.
By Janine Baalbergen
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Group: Online Journalism
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
For those who say that a blogger is not a journalist, without explaining any further, could you please give me some clarifications? I am a journalist AND my platform is a WordPress blog.
By Ludovica Iaccino
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Online Journalism
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
The difference is a blogger can write about unsubstantiated opinion where a journalist has to write about substantiated facts.
By Scott St. John
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Group: Online Journalism
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
Lively discussion. WEhat is likely to happen is that bloggers who have never worked in the news business will begin to get some training, perhaps working on blogs that now employ experienced journalists who find themselves without papers to write for, This could be a great help for the quality of blog journalism. Inexperienced bloggers, however, are going to have to be patient and be content to be in a learning experience for a while. BTW, I heartily disagree with Scott St. John. It is the indiscriminate use of unsubstantiated (sic) facts that us currently dragging down the credibility of ther blogosphere. Remember before you write and transmit anything: Thewse words have your name attached. If you’re concerned about your reputation — and you should be — be causeful about what you say in print. These words will follow you everywhere.
By Bill Fisher
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Online Journalism
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
The difference between blogging and journalism is credentialing. A J-school degree isn’t required to be a blogger, but it is highly expected to be a journalist.
By Teowonna Clifton
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Group: Online Journalism
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
A journalist reports news, though not ALL of them report the news accurately. A blogger can be a journalist if she/he is objective and can report details. Most bloggers who do commentary are much like columnists. BTW, I’m a journalist and a columnist. Covered two coups in my country and took on he Defense beat. The problem with mainstream is that they are usually big business.. oh well..
By Cynthia Sycip
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Online Journalism
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
There is no easy answer to this question endlessly debated here. But the answer lies in professional practice and ethics, not the platform of production.
Credentialling is helpful but not a solution. Some countries have used credentialling EG China to exclude dissident journalists. Yet uncredentialled blogging remains a powerful force for free speech in such countries.
J schools are also a step in the right direction. But some (not all) of the world’s best journalists never studied journalism. J schools aren’t always that great either.
I spoke at an all China conference Journalism Deans conference a few years ago and argued they should teach ethics as a long term way of encouraging credibility. One Dean replied,” But we do teach ethics already. We teach love of the Communist Party!”
Admittedly about half the Communist party approved Deans present fell about laughing at this remark. But a significant number thought it was OK. Imagine what their graduates are like.
The key to defining good journalism, I think, is recognising its link to free speech, which in most countries is not guaranteed by a constitution. Free speech is not limited to, and indeed can be inhibited by, mainstream media. Meaningful free speech can meanwhile be practiced by bloggers.
But if you want to call yourself a good journalist, get educated, join a professional organisation and seek the truth.
Remember the first point of Interrnational Federation of Journalists declaration of principles:
“Respect for truth and for the right of the public to truth is the first duty of the journalist”.
By Alan Knight
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Online Journalism
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
I’m a blogger, columnist and a journalist. Yes, all three at different times in my life. I have great respect for them all. But if there is one thing I hate is bloggers who fancy themselves to be journalists. Just because you put a band aid on a sore does not make you a doctor. Credentialing does. Writing a story without bias doesn’t make you a journalist. Go to J-school. That’s a good start to being a journalist.
By Teowonna Clifton
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Online Journalism
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
Thank you, Alan and Greg, for the points made. There is one detail I would like to add. I believe blogging was designed to be a way of self-publishing, not a watchdog in the corridors of power for the public interest. And whilst the blogging and journalism can often make use of each other, this difference is what makes the separation. The right of a public to information is included in many countries’ legislation because of the consequences the truth produces and it confers a certain status to the profession. Blogging can earn you money and fans, but it was not designed to serve the same aspirations and rights that journalism does. That doesn’t mean that, under a blogger’s hat, you cannot go all journo about your posts, but you do not necessarily have the responsibility to do so.
By Crina Boros
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Online Journalism
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
Maybe this should be a discussion on differences in format and tone rather than classifying a person and a role? A journalist and a blogger can be the same thing…and there can be good and bad bloggers, as well as journalists – hope that’s not to vague a distinction to make!
By Mark O’Toole
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Online Journalism
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
Crina, you make some valid points. I would like to point out, however, that, just as journalism has changed and is changing, blogging has evolved from its earliest form. Blogging is one way that the truth can be conveyed to the public without the constraints to which dogmatic journalism adheres.
By Ian Shalapata, CD, B.Comm.
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Online Journalism
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
Additionally sometimes, though not always, bloggers don’t have the cloud of an organization’s reputation watching over them. This allows bloggers to take more chances because they generally don’t have to “answer” to any head honcho.
By Simon Landau
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Online Journalism
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
For many blogs the idea of writing from a subjective point of view is acceptable and encouraged. That’s not necessarily a bad thing since objectivity doesn’t really exist. Every journalist sees the world and each story covered from a personal perspective and it is then usually vetted to coincide with a particular news organization’s platform, perspective or business plan. Blogs show a point of view that can sometimes be missed in organized journalism. Blogging, then, is often free journalism. The reader/consumer must be digitally literate/aware enough of differing opinions that they can interpret their own point of view, perspective or truth.
By Dawn Ostrem
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Online Journalism
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
Ian, I totally agree. But then again I’m a journalist because I believe in those constraints. Perhapse unrelated to the topic, but somehow relevant – photography as art can reveal the truth in any way it sees fit, but it’s not accountable to the law. Photojournalism is and despite the unremovable human subjectivity, it must stick to facts. P.S. i do plan to have a blog some day 🙂
By Crina Boros
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Online Journalism
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
@ Teowanna: You wrote: “The difference between blogging and journalism is credentialing. A J-school degree isn’t required to be a blogger, but it is highly expected to be a journalist. No J-school degree, no journalist. And that’s ok. Bloggers play a very important role in the media cycle. Just don’t call yourself a journalist.”:
I wish I could agree. I can’t, and “credentialing” is getting less relevant, not more relevant, from what I’ve seen in the newspaper hiring process.
I want to be clear that I’m not talking about major metro operations. I’ve spent 25 years in the media ranging from small to medium-size papers. That is a very different world from the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, or even major regional papers like those in Atlanta or Dallas or Des Moines. I think your statement holds true for major metros.
During my time in journalism, the best and most professional editor I’ve had — a former upper-level staffer for a major southwestern newspaper who was later a regional reporter for Reuters before coming back to his hometown area to take the top job at a decent-size daily — had dropped out of college decades ago because a summer internship offered him a full-time job that wouldn’t have been there if he had returned to college for his senior year. Another one of my editors went back to college in his early 60s shortly before retirement, not because it would do him any good after a lifelong career in the news media, but simply because he wanted to say he’d finished his degree.
At the level of smaller daily newspapers, a journalism degree or even a college degree is increasingly rare. At one newspaper where I worked, nobody in the newsroom except me, not even the publisher, and none of the other department heads, had ever finished a bachelor’s degree. The publisher had been with the company for nearly three decades and moved up “through the ranks” in a company where being able to do the job was more important than a degree.
I agree that a four-year degree can help a reporter get his or her first job. A masters degree can help someone in a specialized field learn the skills it takes to transition from doing something like engineering or nursing or information technology to covering the auto industry, health care, or Silicon Valley as a specialized beat reporter.
Two or three decades ago, I was told (like most people) that a college degree was a mandatory essential to work in the field. Maybe that was true in the 1980s, but it certainly isn’t true today — I think most publishers would prefer to hire someone with four years experience in a newsroom over a recent college graduate with a four-year degree, even if that recent graduate has great clips.
I’m saying this as someone who values education. I’m not at all sure that’s a good thing. But viewing journalism as a skill or a trade rather than as a profession was standard before the rise of journalism schools in the early 1900s, and I think we’re going back to an environment where education and formal training is viewed as “nice to have,” not “necessary to have.”
Go back and read the media environment of the 1800s. It was a Wild West of reporters who had little if any formal education and learned their skills from on-the-job training with editors. There are reasons why newspapers moved away from that model, but for better or for worse, I think we’re going back there, and going back fast.
By Darrell Todd Maurina
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Online Journalism
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
The difference between a Constitutionally protected journalist and an unprotected blogger is being decided in courtrooms across the country right now. So far, we’ve lost every case I’m aware of. As far as the government is concerned, we’re all just bloggers. As writers and reporters, we need those rights. Stay vigilant and fight for the recognition every chance you get.
By Whiteout Press
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Online Journalism
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
I completely agree with Greg. As for those claiming that you can only be one or the other, it seems you are neither.
As a writer in general, you should also have an open mind for topics that can be debated and are not “written in stone.” If you are a writing professional who is honest and takes your craft seriously, the outlet through which you provide information should not impede on your integrity, so long as the source itself is also credible.
This is not a discussion which is “better” but more so, what are the differences? I think some are drifting from the point.
By Emily Tomas
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Online Journalism
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
Journalist and blogger are NOT the same thing. They are legally different. A journalist is considered a member of the press and protected, in theory, by the US Constitution. A blogger is a regular citizen and has no protections. Now, the legal decision maker between the two is a civil/criminal judge and near as I can tell, the only things that can get a blogger declared an official member of the press is a series of reputable press credentials issued by government agencies or a major news outlet willing to hire lawyers and go to bat for you. If you don’t have those things, and even if you do in many cases, you’re just a simple citizen-blogger and not a protected member of the press. One of these days, the Supreme Court will decide it. But for now, that’s the way lower courts have been deciding.
By Whiteout Press
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Online Journalism
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
I think the boundaries between the two are becoming increasingly blurred – it all comes down to your ability to write well. There are very good journalists and very good bloggers (sometimes they do both) – equally there are dreadful journalists out there (they probably think they are great) and lots of very poor bloggers.
By Larry Schlesinger
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Online Journalism
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
If governments suppress professional bodies, and education in general terms is thought inferior to “real experience”, then you get what you already see. People who don’t know that they don’t know.
They scratch away online, or tap away for a bush rag, or a corporate behemoth.
If you are someone who feels you did it all by yourself, I feel you have memory problems. There are people born with portions of the skills needed to be a news person. But when you believe no training is needed, in this complex modern world, you are insane.
Why?
The level of thought, the passion of intent, the detail of analysis needed to understand — let alone report on — the current world is shown up by the general lack. There is appalling ignorance.
Not only in writing technique, but in how to report beyond a grade school project level. I am not convinced bloggers rate any higher than people working in-house in “name” media, in which we must include TV because it is the dominant news medium for most people.
I would not call the major online email sources great news coverage — globally, Yahoo is appalling at general news, an open sewer. It ameliorates this by presenting financial news of a standard.
Even in financial reporting, the variance of quality is wide. Some services do not live up to their reputations, often because they miss or ignore items that matter, or cover them in scoffing terms, and only months later are shown to be out of touch.
Information galore –always more “content” but often it seems to be asking the wrong questions. Look at the mess we are in. Noise and very llittle big picture analysis.
Media takes its place in line for some of the blame for the decay of ethics that is what really has caused the economic mess.
We get so much writing — and so little substance.
I feel there are two social current at work in the western world right now — these are generational and do not seem to be lifting.
The first is a lip-service to, but complete denial, of ethics as an essential part of civilisation; the second is stranger still but tied to the first — rampant immaturity and a lack of maturation. This is voiced in egocentricity and the dominance of banality over substance. The generations alive now are going to pay a heavy price for letting these things fester. This is because everything that is an outcome of human life depends on ethical and mature judgement. We’re not seeing it, even in the higher offices of governments.
Back to the point: Bloggers are not constrained by any professional code, whatsoever as media people are. Codes of ethics are a reality in professional media. I feel the blogger is like a pamphleteer, albeit with a much potentially larger territory. Bloggers should not kid themselves. Journalists must defend their profession, and it’s structure.
Bloggers need know a jot about media law, and operate in a vaccum unless they already have been in media and from experience know the pitfalls of libel.
The reporter operates in a team most often, and is held to scrutiny by a “chain of command”. I do not see that this happens in blogging. The results are always the best test of any news gathering or analysis. It will be case by case.
I could not sit back and watch such a debate, it is too important to the future of our world.
By Evan Hodge
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Online Journalism
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
I cannot help myself nodding in agreement with this assessment of what is being discussed here. Thanks, Mr. Hodge, and everyone, too, who are selflessly sharing your expertise with the rest of us regarding the topic.
By Dionesio Grava
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Online Journalism
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
@Mr. Hodge, Thank you. I am sure you are a journalist. You hit the nail on the head. Pretenders always want to encroach into a discipline they thought earned by simply posting articles.
By Cris Diaz
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Online Journalism
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
The original pemise that blogging has “been at the forefront” for some time is typical of what’s wrong with all media — your commnet is opinion, unsupported. It counts for nothing with any reader who retains rationality.
By Evan Hodge
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Online Journalism
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
Evan makes some valid points. Traditional media do have a larer reach than do bloggers, in a general sense. However, it cannot be emphasized enough that without bloggers, the mainstream media would have had very little, if not completely missed, stories such as the Arab Spring.
Instead of debating which is “more relevant” in the modern era, there should be more emphasis on creating a sybiotic relationship between blogging and the traditional media. There is room for movement in this area.
By Ian Shalapata, CD, B.Comm.
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Online Journalism
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
Thank you, Ian, you are a broadminded commentator. Your point is excellent.
The media is only a segment of any society, also, not God-like. Despite the Hearsts etc of the world, or the well-intentioned Turner, or perhaps not Murdoch etc
My generation was lumbered with the “brainwashing” techniques supposedly wielded by corporate businesses, media included. I don’t accept this view, never have. People operate as individuals, with insight.
Blogging can give a thousand points of light to keep events before an audience.
As we know the world is still far from equal access to having a media voice.
Example: North Korea has about 800 people in its 26 million with ongoing Web access. Students must sign-in stating their search intentions before allowed online.
“Mainstream” media will move into this territory only to the extent that its clients and advertising dollars allow. News will get slanted at times, sometimes for just reasons — as in the case of national security.
So, to that end, blogging has a place of importance, providing practitioners take their social impact seriously (i.e. not like the clots who posted the You Tube vid angering a large part of the Muslim world).
But this has to be a guide for all serious media. Professional behaviour.
Example: Tapping cell phones, if done inside the CIS, would be broadsided by Murdoch’s empire as Police State destruction of freedom. He can’t defend his own when they do it — illegal and immoral acts.
By Evan Hodge
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Online Journalism
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
The distinctions between journalists and bloggers have become increasingly academic and irrelevant in recent years. Most professional journalists are now required to be bloggers also. And any blogger who wants to be known for more than just navel-gazing has to offer value by adopting the professionalism and seriousness of intent of traditional journalism. To the extent that two distinct camps still exist, neither can claim superiority in terms of ethics or curating ability (that is, the ability to distinguish what’s important and what’s trivial) anymore.
That said, journalists and bloggers still have a lot to learn from each other, since the two will continue to converge into something whose shape (as a viable profession) still has yet to be determined. Bloggers need to learn the newsgathering techniques that journalists have been trained in, while journalists need to learn that storytelling is now an ongoing process and always part of a conversation; it’s never one-sided, and it’s never finished. Both camps need to learn how to talk less and listen more.
By Gary Susman
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Online Journalism
Discussion: The Differences Between Bloggers and Journalists
Bloggers and Journalists should learn from each other. Even blogger-journalists (or journalists who have gone into blogging) should continue to hone their craft. Soon, the blurred lines now separating both will fade.
By Emmanuel Mongaya
Ian, by dogmatic constraints you mean fact-checking? 🙂