What is a Journalist, Part Deux

Since the beginning of September, my idea of what a journalist is has changed. 

I've thought a lot about bloggers, citizen journalists, the new media, and the likes of Bill O'Reilly. 

I think that I've gained a much more liberal view of what the role of a journalist is, in that I see a journalist as a societal watchdog and encourager of public discourse. In this way, I think that true journalism is disappearing. More and more, journalism is becoming a corporate tool to spread ideology, make money, and entertain. Of course there is an understandable issue of monetary self-interest in the producers of the news, but this should not obstruct the democratic role of the journalist. 

I watched a local KSL 5 broadcast the other day and the top news stories were not news stories at all; there was banter between the anchors, human interest stories, etc, but nothing that really affects life. Perhaps it's that there isn't real news in Salt Lake, but I doubt that this is the case. I think that there are important stories to cover in Salt Lake, but that the news organizations aren't fulfilling their journalistic responsibilities in reporting it. 

On a national scale, Bill O'Reilly, along with other news commenters, is almost doing the opposite of his role. Regardless of whether or not he considers himself a journalist, the news organization he works for is sandwiching his program in between "news" stories, giving the illusion of news. Even if Fox News gave some blaring declaration that Bill O'Reilly isn't a journalist and his opinions are not authoritative, the network legitimizes his work by putting him on the air. If he were stimulating public discourse or even debate, then his program would have worth. O'Reilly, however, does not encourage discourse; he peddles argument, partisanship, and discord. He is not a journalist. If he were, he would mediate legitimate discourse and debate, rather than push a polarizing agenda. 

Bloggers, I believe, are doing the pure work of journalists. They, unlike Bill O'Reilly, who seems to want a homogenized public opinion, as blogging citizens are expanding the marketplace of ideas to everyone. Bloggers, as a significant chunk of the electorate, represent true public discourse, though it is sometimes unrestrained and unmediated. In this way, it seems to be the start of a new pure religion. By bypassing filters, bloggers step right over the censorship that is a necessity of networks and newspapers.

I'm sure that my idea of journalism will continue to evolve, as I haven't really developed a complete philosophy as to what journalism is. Stay tuned as it continues to develop and change...