Paula Pant

“The universe is made of stories,

not atoms.”

- Muriel Rukeyser

Showdown!

Blogging vs. JournalismThe Blurry Line Between Journalism & Blogging

By Paula Pant

Old-School Journalism (pre-2005ish)

• Gather facts• Break the story• First * Fast * Accurate

Old-School Journalism (pre-2005ish)

• Accuracy• Fairness• Objectivity

A Day in the Life of an Old-School Reporter

Flickr / Lisa Padilla

Flickr / BuzzFarmers

Flickr / jdelshad

• How many gunmen?• How many victims were injured/killed?• What hospital were the victims taken to?• What condition are the victims listed in?• Has anyone been arrested?• What type of gun?• What time did the shooting take place?• Where did the gunmen position themselves?• Who called in the report?• Alleged motive?• Bystander reaction – quotes.

Flickr / Joel Witter

Midtown resident Michael Smith, 27, was standing near the counter the gunman approached.

“I was petrified,” Smith said.

Journalism in the Digital Age (2006 and after)

Reporters don’t break news. Twitter does.

Jan 15, 2009

@highfours: I just watched a plane crash into the hudson rive in manhattan

Photo:Twitter/@jkrums

@ReallyVirtual: Helicopter hovering above Abbottabad at 1AM (is a rare event).(May 1, 2011 -- Operation that killed bin Laden)

@JordnJnkieJuice: EARTHQUAKE !!!!!(August 23, 2011 – Earthquake in D.C. and up the East Coast)

Identity Crisis!

Flickr / WorldWinnerdotCom

Role of Journalism in Digital Age

#1: Accuracy “Rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated.”

#2: ContextFrame story within historical and cultural context.

#3: Analysis“Second-Day Stories” >> Whom might this affect?

Flickr / Will Lion

The line between journalism and

blogging grows blurry ...

Journalists vs. Bloggers(Quality Guidelines)

• Verify EVERYTHING • Primary source• Locked in print• Quality determined

by industry peers + adherence to industry standards

• Crowdsourced accuracy• Secondary sources• Can change copy

anytime• Quality determined by

your audience

Journalists vs. Bloggers(Money & Special Interests)

• Can’t buy coverage• Editorial staff works on

separate floor from advertising staff

• “Will this sell copies?”• Sensationalism

• Affiliate + paid coverage• Same person runs both

editorial + advertising

• “Will this generate clicks?”

• SEO

Journalists vs. Bloggers(Storytelling + Engagement )

• Author-agnostic• Third-person• Detached• Standardized AP Style

• Personality-driven• First-person• Engaged• Wild west of style

guidelines

“Our industry rightfully flinches at any attempt to

define who is, and by extension who is not, a

‘journalist.’”

- Online News Association, Sept. 18, 2013

Free Flow of Information Act

•Medium-agnostic•Consistency is king

Free Flow of Information Act

The person is an employee of or freelancer for any service “that

disseminates news or information” no matter the mechanism of distribution,

including media and technologies not yet invented.

Free Flow of Information Act

The person must regularly gather news and information on matters of public interest

for the purpose of disseminating that

information to the public.

“In our view, a journalist is defined less by the title on his or her business card than by the acts of journalism she or he commits.”

- Online News Association, Sept. 18, 2013

Tell Stories.

(With curiosity, compassion, and no tolerance for B.S.)

Seek Truth.

(Test accuracy. Avoid deliberate distortion. Question motives.)

Source: SPJ Code of Ethics

Be Accountable.

(Distinguish editorial from advertising. Avoid hybridizing the two.)

Source: SPJ Code of Ethics

Act Independently.

(Refuse gifts or favors that compromise your integrity. Disclose everything.)

Source: SPJ Code of Ethics

Minimize Harm.

(Respect privacy. Speak and write tastefully. Do not pander.)

Source: SPJ Code of Ethics

Serve the Public.

(Your boss is the greater good.)

Copyright Jessica Lum