Blogging: More than journalism
Tuesday’s article about me in the Arizona Daily Wildcat wasn’t the only thing in there concerning bloggers and journalism. Their website also included a poll question: "What is the role of a blogger in journalism?" Results were as follows.
- 13%: They are journalists.
- 15%: They are watchdogs.
- 16%: They provide entertainment.
- 56%: They are not real journalists.
Despite all the talk about me, I’m inclined to agree; not all bloggers are journalists. And as I mentioned earlier, I don’t consider myself to be a traditional journalist. The poll misses an important point, however. Some bloggers are traditional journalists. Others are watchdogs. Others provide entertainment. Others simply provide unique insight from a different perspective.
It would be a mistake to attempt to categorize every political blogger into singularly distinct categories. Rather, bloggers can be one or more of these. Just because there happen to be three satirical podcasts on the Growler doesn’t mean that I don’t watchdog, nor does my watchdogging keep me from producing satire. I even made a movie poster featuring Rep. Grijalva a while back after I had interviewed him for the first time back in the fall of 2003 as a freshman.
Some questions over the role of bloggers in elections still exist. What is answered is that not all bloggers covering the elections are doing the same job. Not all go out on the streets and interview candidates. Not all simply provide witty commentary or satire. And only a very small minority would go as far to say that they are trying to pose as "objective journalists."
Ultimately, we’re all citizens, whether we be citizen satirists, commentators, or journalists. And it’s important to remember that the former two of that list don’t give up rights for not being the third. Long live the blogosphere.
Bloging offers such a great opportunity to express your thoughts and let others see it, like never before. Couldn’t do it with mail, the telephone, maybe short wave radio, but that has limitations, maybe the role is typing thoughts so that others will be able to know what you’re thinking and nothing more. Maybe that’s enough!
Comment by Norm — October 18, 2006 @ 11:15 pm