Blogging and/or Journalism?

Blogging is definitely far from being juvenile. A closer look will reveal a lot of intelligent blogs in cyberspace ( and I am not talking of Washingtonniene). It’s a different medium altogether, to the point that it’s even being used in the present US presidential campaign.

Having been a journalist, I was challenged by a question posed by NYU Department of Journalism faculty member Jay Rosen on whether or not blogging is journalism. I am mighty sure there is strong debate on the subject since journalists would think of themselves as an entirely different clique altogether while the horde of bloggers prefer to look at themselves as exactly blogging because they are against journalism.

Rosen’s NYU weblog did provide stimulating insights on the similarities and differences between blogging and journalism which is worth quoting here:

1. Weblogs do not provide original reporting whereas journalism is anchored on the proper reporting and verification of the news.

2. But like journalism, being the first to break the news counts in blogging. Good weblogs break news, even if it’s just news of another good weblog born or a nugget of information newly available.

3. Blogging is not journalism, but some journalists are natural bloggers and some bloggers may be natural journalists.

4. Blogging is not journalism but bloggers now filter and edit journalists, and journalists read blogs.

5. Blogging is not journalism, but whereas journalism is on the Web, blogging is deeply of it, and so bloggers are ahead of journalists in learning what the Web is for.

6. Blogging ain’t journalism but more of it should be, if we’re serious about advancing this form.

7. Blogging is not journalism but journalists are writers and so are bloggers, which leaves reporting (the strength of journalism) and linking (the weblogger’s art) as two differences bound to make a difference.

8. Blogging…just don’t call it journalism. It’s what happens when the readers of journalism turn into writers, and the audience into a talking public.

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