Are Bloggers Journalists?

Are bloggers journalists?

It is a question I have taken on before, but after reading Rettberg’s article, “Citizen Journalists” and Rosenstiel’s “Journalism of Verification,” I feel more qualified to take a stab at the question.

This entire debate began with the start of the Internet.  As Internet use progressed, the “blogosphere,” as it is called, opened up.  There has always been freedom of the press, but, as Rettberg puts it, “The Internet changed one of the greatest obstacles to true freedom of the press . . . . by the end of the century, bloggers could, in effect, own a press” (85). 

Suddenly, there is no longer a need to be published in a magazine or newspaper to spread news.  Someone with the details about an event doesn’t have to phone tip the local news station.  Instead, anyone with news, or anything to say for that matter, can with the click of a mouse.

So the question is again, is this journalism?

My answer remains that no, it is not.  Bloggers can be journalists, in some instances, but all bloggers are not journalists because they blog, and similarly, blogging is not necessarily journalism.  Here is what Rettberg identifies as the main difference: “You call yourself a journalist if you work as a journalist” (89). 

Rosensteil takes this concept to an even deeper, but very simplified level.  He says, “the essence of journalism is a discipline of verification” (71). 

In my opinion, that is a fantastic way to explain the difference between journalism and blogging.  Rosensteil elaborates by explaining, “in the end, the discipline of verification is what separates journalism from entertainment, propaganda, fiction, or art” (79).

Journalists are professional writes.  They adhere to their professions code of ethics.  They answer to superiors in the publishing industry, regardless of the medium.  Journalists have accountability.  They must always, verify their information, their sources, their facts.  They must be transparent.

My questions for discussion are, aside from the reasons listed above, are there any other ways to separate bloggers from journalists?  And additionally, when exactly does a blogger become a journalist?