Seminar A: What is a Journalist

Seminar A focused on what a Journalist really is...

The prescribed chapters (1 & 2) in the text - gave a solid grounding for the presentations. Both presenters explored what gives a journalist their authority...

With the explosion of citizen journalism, are professional journalists necessary?

Both presenters came to the conclusion that there is a place for journalists today & into the future.

I agree... Some blogs that purport to be quality & of a professional standard are still littered with typographical errors. It is that extra education and desire to get it right that I think elevates a professional journalist above the standard of Average Joe Blogger.


The Definition: Journalist project, undertaken in 1998, listed the top skills & attributes identified as necessary for journalists in Australia.

They were:

1. Communication Skills
2. A Questioning, Curious & Inquisitive Mind
3. Writing Abilities
4. News Sense
5. Knowledge of Computers
6. Listening Skills
7. General Knowledge
8. Empathy, Patience & Understanding
9. Sense of Working for more than Self (notion of public responsibility)
10. Language Skills
11. Interviewing Skills

A 'citizen journalist' may develop some of these skills with practise (like computer skills & general knowledge) but the basics - 'communication skills' - are highly important and require specific education/training to fully grasp.

Writing skills are practised at school but for many people, other than the shopping list and a weekly crossword, little other writing is done. Proper training in literary techniques mean that a more articulate, professional article can be created.

The lack of objectivity in most blogs is also a concern - most blogs appear to be nothing more than opinion. Opinions are great to read but, just like in a newspaper, they should be flagged as such and not passed off for accepted truths & 'facts'.

One thing bloggers do have on their side though, is an inquisitive curious mind... That really can't be taught and journalists who don't have this quality will struggle. To go out of their way to attempt to perform as a journalist, shows a desire to question & discover.

I'm all for public participation but leave the journalists to the journalism...

Blog away to your heart's content, but in my eyes, it's blogging... not journalism.

List taken from:

Journalism: Theory in Practice, edited by Suellen Tapsall & Carolyn Varley, 2006 edition, p9-10