4 ms·

This is the CPJ definition: "CPJ defines journalists as people who cover the news or comment on public affairs in any media, including print, photographs, radi

This is the CPJ definition: "CPJ defines journalists as people who cover the news or comment on public affairs in any media, including print, photographs, radio, television, and online." I'd say that both Murray and Assange legitimately fit into this definition. Unfortunately in the UK you're only considered a "journalist" if you can join the cosy boys club that is the NUJ, which is a bit like saying you're not a real train driver unless you're a member of ASLEF which is clearly nonsense.

BurningFrog 5y ago
Don't we all comment on public affairs online?
- boringg 5y ago
  Yeah this is the crux of the problem. As the definition of journalist becomes so broad that everyone falls into this category so to does the number of journalists going to prison. The counter is that if there is too strict a definition of journalism - you put to many controls on the group. It almost feels like you should need some kind of standard to qualify as a journalist (again that has issues with it as well). It's fraught either way but I don't think I am alone here when I say a lot of journalists around the world don't really qualify as journalists and are actually activists under guise (both on the right and on the left).
  - chrisseaton 5y ago
    > The counter is that if there is too strict a definition of journalism - you put to many controls on the group. How so? I don't think 'journalist' is any kind of privileged or protected group - so you don't lose anything by not being a journalist do you?
    - svachalek 5y ago
      To the point that governments shouldn't be putting anyone in jail just for revealing their activity, there's a truth to that. But so far as we can use metrics like "journalists in jail" as a proxy for despotism, there's a loss when despots are hand-picking the journalists. As to privilege and protection, that depends a lot on regional laws.
- im3w1l 5y ago
  Yeah. I would make a simple common-sense addition, that this commenting is their primary source of income.
chrisseaton 5y ago
> people who ... comment on public affairs in any media I mean... I do that, but I'm clearly not a journalist.
- CapitalistCartr 5y ago
  I guess if our fact-focused essays/comments about the issues of the day sufficiently annoy someone powerful, enough to get thrown in prison, then we're a journalist. At least the powerful, annoyed person thinks so. Something to think about while we rot away in solitary.
COGlory 5y ago
Professional organizations are extremely effective gatekeeping mechanisms.

BurningFrog 5y ago

Don't we all comment on public affairs online?

boringg 5y ago
Yeah this is the crux of the problem. As the definition of journalist becomes so broad that everyone falls into this category so to does the number of journalists going to prison. The counter is that if there is too strict a definition of journalism - you put to many controls on the group. It almost feels like you should need some kind of standard to qualify as a journalist (again that has issues with it as well). It's fraught either way but I don't think I am alone here when I say a lot of journalists around the world don't really qualify as journalists and are actually activists under guise (both on the right and on the left).
- chrisseaton 5y ago
  > The counter is that if there is too strict a definition of journalism - you put to many controls on the group. How so? I don't think 'journalist' is any kind of privileged or protected group - so you don't lose anything by not being a journalist do you?
  - svachalek 5y ago
    To the point that governments shouldn't be putting anyone in jail just for revealing their activity, there's a truth to that. But so far as we can use metrics like "journalists in jail" as a proxy for despotism, there's a loss when despots are hand-picking the journalists. As to privilege and protection, that depends a lot on regional laws.
im3w1l 5y ago
Yeah. I would make a simple common-sense addition, that this commenting is their primary source of income.

chrisseaton 5y ago

> people who ... comment on public affairs in any media I mean... I do that, but I'm clearly not a journalist.

CapitalistCartr 5y ago
I guess if our fact-focused essays/comments about the issues of the day sufficiently annoy someone powerful, enough to get thrown in prison, then we're a journalist. At least the powerful, annoyed person thinks so. Something to think about while we rot away in solitary.

COGlory 5y ago

Professional organizations are extremely effective gatekeeping mechanisms.