Blogging & Journalism

Blogging is no closer to being journalism than shooting a gun is to being in the military. Shooting a gun might make you a gun shooter, but it doesn't make you a marine. It's the same with blogging. Writing a blog might make you a writer, but it doesn't make you a journalist. First of all, let's look at the obvious. For the most part, journalists have to go to school to become journalists, while anyone with internet access and a keyboard can become a blogger. Journalists work under a system of accountability and standards; bloggers can say whatever they want and remain anonymous while doing so. Accountability is one of the main issues I take with this subject, because while a blogger can anonymously write a blog that is void of reputable facts and full of lies and twisted truth, a journalist who produces a published article in the same way would suffer much harder consequences, including losing their job.

In both of the situations given, I take the side of the journalist. A blogger should not receive the same protection as a journalist. For one, a blogger can be anybody. It doesn't matter if it's someone that has been writing for years or some ten year old with a new laptop; a blogger is a blogger. The law should not look at who the individual blogger is but at what a blog is. A journalist working for a reputable newspaper or magazine that has a reputation of delivering quality news, on the other hand, should be taken more seriously. As an example, Joe Smith who has been keeping his own blog at www.joesmithblogspot.com (not an actual site) for years, or a veteran reporter for the New York Times. Both have been writing for years. Both write well. But only one has the reputation and name of a major newspaper to back him.

Is this fair? Is it fair in the second example for the journalist to gain press credentials while the blogger doesn't? Absolutely. Imagine if you were a singer songwriter. You record your own music, make a few CD's, create a website, play some shows, and maybe even have a moderate fan base. Would it be fair if you were seeking a gig at a major venue but you were denied and instead of you they chose an artist that was signed to a major record label? This may not seem fair, but really it is. The other artist worked hard to gain the backing of a major music label and because of that is now reaping the benefits. Those in charge of the venue chose them not just because they knew them and their quality but because they knew the reputation of the record label. It's the same with this second example. Why would I, if I were a fashion designer, choose a blogger from SoCalGalsFashionTrends.com (again, not a real site) over a reporter from Vogue magazine to cover my fashion show? Furthermore, I believe it would be a literal slap in the face to hard working journalists who have been working hard for years to provide legitimate, factual news and stories to have their jobs threatened by people who sit at home in their pj’s writing for their own personal blogs.

A well known journalist from National Geographic could decide to quite his job and instead start his own blog on the Internet, but in doing so he should not expect to receive the same opportunities or respect as he did while working for the magazine. Because, in my opinion, it is not as much the writer as it is who the writer works for that determines credibility. However, in expressing this I am not trying to take away from the importance of free speech and free expression that blogging and the internet has provided. It IS amazing that anyone with a computer and a keyboard can have their writings view by potentially millions, but bloggers should not expect the same rights and privileges as journalists, because they are (though not less importantly) just bloggers.