Comments on: Mainstream vs. Citizen ‘journalists’ http://jeffcutler.com/jeff/2008/05/mainstream-vs-citizen-journalists/ Content Specialist, Social Media Journalist Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:19:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: jeff http://jeffcutler.com/jeff/2008/05/mainstream-vs-citizen-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-1623 jeff Thu, 15 May 2008 16:38:20 +0000 http://jeffcutler.com/?p=74#comment-1623 Thanks for reading, Mari. Jeff Thanks for reading, Mari.

Jeff

]]> By: Mari Adkins http://jeffcutler.com/jeff/2008/05/mainstream-vs-citizen-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-1622 Mari Adkins Thu, 15 May 2008 16:36:03 +0000 http://jeffcutler.com/?p=74#comment-1622 Well done. Thanks for sharing. Well done. Thanks for sharing.

]]> By: jeff http://jeffcutler.com/jeff/2008/05/mainstream-vs-citizen-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-1615 jeff Fri, 02 May 2008 17:42:09 +0000 http://jeffcutler.com/?p=74#comment-1615 Totally agree. I wouldn't be fully ensconced in the social/new media movement if I didn't think it had value. If I can bridge the gap, I'm valuable to the traditional guard of leading and web press (physical webs of newsprint, not electronic) and the person who wants all their news with a click. And there's nothing more valuable than timing and being where the news happens. The crux of the issue presents itself when the news organization decision makers have to choose between no story and a story that might be a little less polished. Thanks for coming by and thanks for opening the conversation. Totally agree. I wouldn’t be fully ensconced in the social/new media movement if I didn’t think it had value. If I can bridge the gap, I’m valuable to the traditional guard of leading and web press (physical webs of newsprint, not electronic) and the person who wants all their news with a click.

And there’s nothing more valuable than timing and being where the news happens. The crux of the issue presents itself when the news organization decision makers have to choose between no story and a story that might be a little less polished.

Thanks for coming by and thanks for opening the conversation.

]]> By: Chris Brogan... http://jeffcutler.com/jeff/2008/05/mainstream-vs-citizen-journalists/comment-page-1/#comment-1614 Chris Brogan... Fri, 02 May 2008 17:37:03 +0000 http://jeffcutler.com/?p=74#comment-1614 The truth is that professional journalists have several skills and abilities that set them worlds apart from the average skillset of the typical blogger. The ability to report fair and balanced information (F-you, Fox, for making me think of you when I type that phrase), coupled with the notion of what makes a solid story with appropriate fact checking and lead validation are just two facets of a professional that most bloggers (myself included) lack. And yet, lots of hacks like me are taking a chunk out of the space normally reserved for traditional, professional journalists. Why? Because we're faster (easier to be fast when you don't report fairly or check your facts). Because we're more flexible (our editor- ourselves- doesn't care if the story pisses off sponsors because we don't make money). Because we're networkers (we spend a good chunk of our time connecting with other people). The first two are obviously skewed towards agreeing that journalists rock far more than bloggers at doing a better job. But that third one? Hmm. Yes, SOME journalists get out there and make relationships happen. But would you say that the lion's share do? Is that even NECESSARY to reporting good stories, etc? No. But it makes a difference. And in the end, the bozo with the cell phone cam still can hand the $15,000 camera guy a defeat because if the bozo is THERE, the story is there. Right? Better? no. But that's not what makes the world spin, right? The truth is that professional journalists have several skills and abilities that set them worlds apart from the average skillset of the typical blogger. The ability to report fair and balanced information (F-you, Fox, for making me think of you when I type that phrase), coupled with the notion of what makes a solid story with appropriate fact checking and lead validation are just two facets of a professional that most bloggers (myself included) lack.

And yet, lots of hacks like me are taking a chunk out of the space normally reserved for traditional, professional journalists. Why? Because we’re faster (easier to be fast when you don’t report fairly or check your facts). Because we’re more flexible (our editor- ourselves- doesn’t care if the story pisses off sponsors because we don’t make money). Because we’re networkers (we spend a good chunk of our time connecting with other people).

The first two are obviously skewed towards agreeing that journalists rock far more than bloggers at doing a better job. But that third one? Hmm. Yes, SOME journalists get out there and make relationships happen. But would you say that the lion’s share do? Is that even NECESSARY to reporting good stories, etc? No. But it makes a difference.

And in the end, the bozo with the cell phone cam still can hand the $15,000 camera guy a defeat because if the bozo is THERE, the story is there. Right?

Better? no. But that’s not what makes the world spin, right?

]]>