J. D. Lasica (2003) – Blogs and Journalism need each other & D. Gillmor (2003) – Moving toward participatory journalism.

Both writers discuss the role bloggers play in the news media. Lasica wonders if blogging has anything to do with journalism. I like her point on what journalism means, what gives you a clear answer to this question right away. She emphasizes that we must not forget the derivation of the word journalist: someone who keeps an account of day-to-day events, and that is just what bloggers, among other thing, do. So shouldn’t we pay more attention to how we can get the best benefits out of the blogging, instead of arguing whether it is or isn’t a form of journalism?

         I agree with both writers that we can get a lot profit out of blogging when it comes to journalism and that weblogs aren’t competing with the work of the professional journalism establishment, but rather completing it. I like Gillmore’s guiding principle for writing on his blog; ‘My readers know more then I do, sometimes individually on specific topics, but always collectively’.  The authors of a research study, ‘Interactive features of online newspapers’ claim next to this assumption, that journalists nowadays must choose. As gatekeepers they can transfer lots of information, or they can make users a smarter, more active and questioning audience for news events and issues. Off course this sound very positive, but isn’t there a chance that when this opportunity is given to us, there will be people who misuse this power?

         ‘And having readers’ feedback and participation presents a great opportunity and not a threat, because when we ask our readers for help and knowledge they are willing to share it – and, through that sharing, we all benefit.’ This statement of Gillmore seems very obvious, but what if readers deliberately share false information? Lasica claims that the conventions of journalism – accuracy, credibility, trustworthiness and being straight up with your readers – are guideposts that any good blogger should engrave on her wall. I, off course, couldn’t agree more, but how can you control if all bloggers follow this conventions? As much as a agree that listening to the public is a good way to improve the (sometimes suspiciously) relation between the journalists and the audience and that the weblogs add something new and valuable to the mix, just as much I believe, like Lasica puts it: ‘More needs to be done to make this collaboration a deeper and more meaningful phenomenon.’