There have always been requirements put in place for one to be categorized as a journalist or a media person. Recently, bloggers who may not have the prerequisites in formal schooling, knowledge, and experience have been invading the arena of the so-called mainstream media. This “invasion” has resulted to the blurring of lines between what is practiced in their respective dominions.
A number of cross-over’s have been observed. Many mainstream journalists maintain their own blogs while bloggers try their hand at providing news and information. Venturing into other forms of media is fairly common for both. Many journalists have told their stories through books and bloggers are not far behind in doing the same thing.
The issue of superiority by traditionally-trained media over the generally more play-by-ear blogging community often surfaces when writing qualifications are being examined. However, bloggers are known to connect more readily to the reading audience because of their usual informal style. This has resulted to a sometimes not-so-friendly competition between some members of each group.
There is no need to have any quarrel between these two camps as they have the same basic objective which is to bring information to the people. If there are questions as to territories being invaded or job opportunities taken away by the other, then mutual respect is the key. Basic respect as well for the writing profession itself is required.
Writing should always be guided by sound ethical practice. These include providing correct information with minimized sensationalism. The feeling of antagonism between the two camps often arises from bringing individual brands of information at the expense of the other. Although the blogosphere threatens in a way the standing of mainstream media, it cannot be helped because of the human need for information that continues to evolve.
Image: flickr via Dave Bleasdale
