International Law

What?s a journalist?

By Rob Hyndman

Except for people who obviously fit the traditional definition, I have no idea any longer. But more importantly, I don’t really care. And I bet that kids who are growing up with the Internet care even less. I bet they intuitively understand how to evaluate information online across a variety of criteria, including reliability and bias. Cripes, is Fox News even “journalism”?

I can decide for myself whether a source of fact or opinion is reliable, unbiased, intelligent, meticulous and so on enough to be on my reading list. Good example: 99% of the folks you asked would say that Lou Dobbs is a “journalist” and would bet that Glennzilla is a crank in his basement. But to me, that would be perfectly, precisely wrong. I don’t have a label for Glennzilla - he’s just a smart, careful, opinionated, relentless political blogger. And to me, Lou Dobbs is a shameless, pandering shill.

Some people care about these labels, though I’m not really sure why. And Mike is probably pretty tired of repeating himself on this one - I sure would be. As to whether folks should do more than merely say what they think, I don’t really know how to respond to that. If more “journalists” simply said what they thought when it mattered, the US probably wouldn’t be in Iraq. It’s a big market. It can take care of itself. There is no spoon. The issue is dead, now it’s time to bury it. Everyone back in the pool.

Full post as published by Rob Hyndman .com on February 18, 2008 (boomark / email).