Sunday, September 29, 2013

'Who's a journalist? Does that matter?' Discussion Preparation

The quintessential idea behind Gilmor's article is that in today's rapidly developing media society it is difficult to determine who constitutes the role of journalists. Following, Gilmor's advice, I'd first like to answer this question by examining the word journalism.

Consider these definitions of the word journalism:

: the activity or job of collecting, writing, and editing news stories for newspapers, magazines, television, or radio (Merriam-Webster)

: the occupation of reporting, writing, editing, photographing, or broadcasting news or conducting any news organization as a business (Dictionary.com)

Do these definitions accurately portray what we think of as journalism? If not, why not? ...and how should the definition then be changed?

Do examples of media such as those below warrant the label "journalism"?





















Gilmor discusses how he didn't like to refer to himself as a journalist because it made him "feel like [he] was pretending to a higher role than the craft, however vital and honorable it may be, merited." Do you think the word journalist takes on a different meaning or connotation than the word journalism?

Finally, what are the societal repercussions of mislabeling journalism and its corresponding journalists?



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