The Definition of a Journalist

What does it mean to be a journalist in the twenty-first century? I have often wondered where my four-year journalism degree will take me, especially since the definition of who, and what, journalists are is changing. The future of journalism makes me ask why I ever took on such a course of study. In these challenging economic times, the number of journalists has decreased to the point where important news is not only ignored, but is unable to be written about. The future - it appears - is in the Internet and specifically with bloggerout the

With that said, bloggers are becoming an increasingly important group as seen in the recent case of blogger Mark Bunster in Lake Oswego, Oregon. Bunster, author of the political blog Loaded Orygon, claimed he was a member of the news media. Under Oregon law, members of the news media are allowed to sit in on executive session meetings. When Bunster failed to show credentials, Lake Oswego city councilors kicked him out. The move to exclude Bunster from reporting on "open" council meetings has Oregon buzzing. The case is important and worth considering because it raises one critical question: who can be a journalist?

I do not agree with the move by the Lake Oswego city councilors, and I think it sets a terrible precedent. It's 2010, and politicians - from the president to the lowest city official - must understand that the Internet is not only the future of news, but the medium by which they will reach the public. This current recession has killed countless newspapers and local dailies. To report the news, there needs to be accountability and it is great that citizens with enough intestinal fortitude have stepped up to answer that call.

Unfortunately, these people - bloggers specifically - are largely untrained, citizen journalists. What that means is that they are not officially licensed media members, but that is a good thing for one reason: they have no ties to their stories, and can report objectively. The Internet is replacing paper, and a stream of voices is now flowing in the vast, expanding online world. That has opened up endless possibilities for journalism, and free speech for that matter, that differs from the staleness of print publications. It's wild stuff to think about, and I don't know if I've reached an answer on who qualifies as a journalist. I guess only time will tell...