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A world with editors?

6 comments on A world with editors?

A world with editors?
: Tim Porter gazes at the editorial navel and asks: “Who edits the blog? If it’s not edited, then is it journalism? And, if it is, then is it blogging?” He defines journalism as editing, as a process of selection, by editors.

I disagree.

Journalism is first and foremost reporting: getting the facts, getting them right. Editors can help, of course. But without reporters, editors are nothing.

Journalism is, second, comment, which includes questioning.

In weblogs, the audience acts as editor by selecting, commenting, questioning. It’s still journalism.

So, yes, journalism can be journalism without editing.

Dave Winer insists a blog isn’t a blog with editing.

I don’t buy that, either, for I know the issues newspapers have to worry about: reputation and libel and such; they depend on editors, who may take away the immediacy of blogs but add comfort.

Is a blog without an editor journalism? Of course.

Is a blog with an editor journalism? Sure.

Nonissue.

6 responses to “A world with editors?”

  1. Donald Sensing Avatar
    Donald Sensing

    I explored what a journalist really is after I was ambushed on a radio show (I was a guest) because of my blog. The hosts were very bothered that (heaven forfend!) non-journalists are able to go onto the internet and write whatever they want with no accountability!
    Problem is, defining what is a journalist is darn near impossible, as I think I demonstrate.
    My post is here.
    And blogs do have editors, as any blogger knows. We just call them “readers.”

  2. Scott Ott Avatar
    Scott Ott

    If this is a non-issue, your editor should have killed this story.

  3. Mike G Avatar
    Mike G

    If there isn’t a maitre’d, is it food?

  4. Jeff Jarvis Avatar
    Jeff Jarvis

    Right.
    If there isn’t a conductor, is it music?
    If there isn’t a lawyer, is it legal?

  5. Eve Tushnet Avatar
    Eve Tushnet

    Of course it’s only journalism if there’s an editor! Haven’t you seen the movies? You need somebody to keep a bottle of whiskey in his drawer and rant about how the newspaper business is trash, while smoking a cigar. That guy is the editor.
    My blog has an editor: me. I don’t smoke a cigar, though….
    Cheers
    Eve

  6. Mike G Avatar
    Mike G

    Or as one of my favorite lines from All About Eve says, “It is about time the piano recalled that it did not write the concerto!”