[chiefalchemist]

A start would be that the rest of us stop considering these type journalists. Call them reporters. Call them writers. But journalism is a verb. And if you're not going to act appropriately then you're not worthy of being labeled with the title.

Words matter. They shape worlds. Ironic, huh.

[topmonk]

Great idea, maybe you could write a report on it.

Seriously, what is it going to matter what a few semi-anonymous comments on the internet are going to say? The news media has all the exposure and presumption of telling the truth, whereas people writing blogs and posting comments do not.

[chiefalchemist]

Having a stethoscope doesn't make you a doctor. Having an index finger doesn't make you a photographer. If you want better and more complete news we'd be wise to stop calling sloppy lazy hacks journalists.

Words matter. If we're going to misuse words then we deserve the (intellectual) abuse we get from those we are allowing to run wild.

The Orwellian use of the word journalist / journalists is one of the most ironic quirks of the 21st century.

[paulcole]

Journalism is a noun.

[chiefalchemist]

Metaphorically it's a verb. It is the things you do or not. For example, fact check. The problem is, the belief that it's a noun and a noun one can assign to themselves; that has no formal definition.

If we want to user the word journalism / journalist properly and fairly then the easy way to do is to think of it as being a verb - like leadership. Leader isn't a title. It's actions you take. Just like journalism.

[comex]

‘Leadership’ and ‘leader’ are also both nouns.

[chiefalchemist]

And metaphorical and abstract are what? Words you don't understand? Geez.

[paulcole]

Words matter. They shape worlds. Ironic, huh.