Blogging may be taking away from what you’re trying to do right at this moment: be a journalist (or at least write like one to pass this introductory class).
Don’t get me wrong –blogging is a great way to express yourself as a writer and it’s frankly more fun to write a blog than an academic paper or piece for a newspaper (refer to Erin Harte’s blog).
However, the trouble I have with blogging is that audiences are using them as a journalistic source. Now, I’m sure you know the difference between an objective, journalistic piece and a blog about an opinion on a topic that someone considers “newsworthy” –but does the average internet surfer?
Inaccurate facts; rumors; complete bias –these are only some of the issues that blogs can cause. Anyone can be a blogger but not everyone can be a journalist (and a good one, at that).
Journalism is a refined practice; one that takes literal practice, along with research and objectivity. A blog, more often than not, is not done as carefully. In fact, I’m not basing this blog off of anything other than my opinion whereas if I was publishing this in The Torch, I would probably base my piece off some researched facts about journalism v. blogging. Even then, it wouldn’t be based off of my opinion because it can’t be –precisely because it’s journalism.
Besides, I can go back and edit whatever I'm telling you right now and completely change this blog. However, once I publish a journalistic piece, what's done is done.
Besides, I can go back and edit whatever I'm telling you right now and completely change this blog. However, once I publish a journalistic piece, what's done is done.
To end this, here I have included a NYT article that goes more in depth about blogging v. journalism:
Cartoon:
I agree. Anyone and everyone can publish a blog and I feel that loses the entire source of credibility. They are definitely more interesting to read than an academic paper as well as easier to write.
ReplyDelete