Comments on: Amateur journalism and blogging: friends or foes? http://buttontapper.com/2010/07/07/amateur-journalism-and-blogging-friends-or-foes/ Buttontapper.com Thu, 17 May 2012 20:21:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Defining Amateur Journalism | The Jotting Journal http://buttontapper.com/2010/07/07/amateur-journalism-and-blogging-friends-or-foes/#comment-1279 Defining Amateur Journalism | The Jotting Journal Sun, 19 Sep 2010 18:30:07 +0000 http://buttontapper.com/?p=2342#comment-1279 [...] If you’d like to check our Laura Robert’s blog yourself, here is the link to the post: http://buttontapper.com/2010/07/07/amateur-journalism-and-blogging-friends-or-foes/ [...] […] If you’d like to check our Laura Robert’s blog yourself, here is the link to the post: http://buttontapper.com/2010/07/07/amateur-journalism-and-blogging-friends-or-foes/ […]

]]> By: Laura Roberts http://buttontapper.com/2010/07/07/amateur-journalism-and-blogging-friends-or-foes/#comment-1236 Laura Roberts Mon, 16 Aug 2010 23:15:58 +0000 http://buttontapper.com/?p=2342#comment-1236 I guess the question is whether one is still considered an "amateur" even though s/he has experience in the field. Am I an amateur journalist because I lack a certain number of credits? If so, how many must one have to be considered a "professional"? Different organizations offer different definitions, too, so if you can be considered a professional with only 5 credits total to your name, versus needing 5 national publications, where do we draw the line? I think it becomes a semantic argument, and a silly one at that. One is a professional when one acts professionally, seeks full or part-time employment in the field, and produces work to prove his or her involvement, no? I would agree that self-publication need not be frowned upon, and I don't necessarily think it always indicates some type of progress to be published by others. It's mainly a matter of persistence, though a certain level of skill may also be required by worthwhile publications. I guess the question is whether one is still considered an “amateur” even though s/he has experience in the field. Am I an amateur journalist because I lack a certain number of credits? If so, how many must one have to be considered a “professional”? Different organizations offer different definitions, too, so if you can be considered a professional with only 5 credits total to your name, versus needing 5 national publications, where do we draw the line? I think it becomes a semantic argument, and a silly one at that. One is a professional when one acts professionally, seeks full or part-time employment in the field, and produces work to prove his or her involvement, no?

I would agree that self-publication need not be frowned upon, and I don’t necessarily think it always indicates some type of progress to be published by others. It’s mainly a matter of persistence, though a certain level of skill may also be required by worthwhile publications.

]]> By: Emily http://buttontapper.com/2010/07/07/amateur-journalism-and-blogging-friends-or-foes/#comment-1235 Emily Mon, 16 Aug 2010 23:07:47 +0000 http://buttontapper.com/?p=2342#comment-1235 I guess I'm still a little confused as to the definition of an amateur journalist. Seems to me that a person's experience would determine his status as amateur or professional. Someone might earn a degree but never progress in that field after graduation, maybe even having quite a bit of talent but without regular use, his level of skill remaining somewhat untapped. Blogging as an avenue of journalism is largely scoffed and ignored by many. However, the type of blogging--subject matter, style, diction--is a major determinant of its worth. Some of the best writers may be hiding, undiscovered, behind a blog. Just because they don't have to go through a third party in order to publish their thoughts does not make them less deserving of readers or attention. Everyone started out in that position at some time--some people remain there longer than others. But the fact remains that the means of publication or the amount of readers does not always accurately depict a writers' level of skill or ability. Would you agree? I guess I’m still a little confused as to the definition of an amateur journalist. Seems to me that a person’s experience would determine his status as amateur or professional. Someone might earn a degree but never progress in that field after graduation, maybe even having quite a bit of talent but without regular use, his level of skill remaining somewhat untapped.

Blogging as an avenue of journalism is largely scoffed and ignored by many. However, the type of blogging–subject matter, style, diction–is a major determinant of its worth.

Some of the best writers may be hiding, undiscovered, behind a blog. Just because they don’t have to go through a third party in order to publish their thoughts does not make them less deserving of readers or attention. Everyone started out in that position at some time–some people remain there longer than others. But the fact remains that the means of publication or the amount of readers does not always accurately depict a writers’ level of skill or ability.

Would you agree?

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