I believe that “journalism” is the act of gathering and
disseminating information or news that one deems important and valuable.
Because of this, I think that in today’s world, anyone who uses a mass
communication medium (i.e. newspapers, blogs, forums, etc.) to report on news
or other issues can be regarded as a journalist. However, this doesn’t mean
everyone is a professional. There have been several court cases throughout the country in recent years which stemmed from bloggers, or other amateur
journalists, claiming protection under “shield laws.” These laws were
instituted to protect freedom of the press, but are now under scrutiny as
technology evolves. Perhaps in the next few years, courts will catch up to the
rapidly changing landscape of online journalism, and extend some protection to
bloggers. But at this point in time, many courts are yet to do so.
So while I
believe that anyone who wishes to report on news, current events, or social
issues through blogs or independent websites can be regarded, to an extent, as
a “journalist,” they have to acknowledge their amateurism. Despite this, I
believe it’s important to give credit to these writers, because although they
may not be professionals, ordinary people can have big things to say about
society. The growth of this participatory attitude in online news media is a wonderful
example of democracy in action, and should be encouraged.
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