I've read quite a bit of huffing and puffing by the MSM about bloggers, particularly those of the conservative persuasion. The attack started with "they aren't professional journalists" and thus can't be trusted. It has now moved on to name calling. Other than someone who gets paid to write, record or speak in a journalistic media, I'm not sure what qualifies one to be a professional journalists. To become a professional journalist are you required to:
1. Take post graduate work designed to provide you with a knowledge set and Take a certification/licensing test after finishing that post graduate work?
2. Serve as an apprentice, then be tested an certified to become a journeyman with further certification to become a Master Journalist.
3. Have training by a licensed school and then pass both written and performance examinations to obtain a professional journalist license?
4. Have some level of education, experience before being allowed to take a State-administered certification exam?
5. Have some required level of education and then be ordained?
The answer is no. To become a professional journalist you simply must be paid to be one. Having a degree in Journalism is certainly helpful, but not required. We place great faith in the prouncements of professional journalists, a group of folks who do not have the education, testing or training that is required to be a doctor, lawyer, dentist, nurse, medical technologist, plumber, electrician, EMT, policeman, aircraft pilot, truck driver, professional engineer, certified industrial hygenist, wastewater operator, teachers or many other professions and jobs.
Everytime I hear some "journalist" speaking of the job as though it were holy orders, I can't help but smile. As a society we place fewer requirements on those who seek to mold our thoughts and beliefs than the guy who sprays your house for cockroaches.
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