Journalism & Blogging: Is there a difference?

In 2019 it is unfortunate to see that there is really no difference anymore between journalism and blogging.

Just for everyone to understand, journalism includes investigative reporting which includes investigative reporting which entails doing research, looking for answers in order to find the truth and report the findings.

Blogging, on the other hand, is simply sharing opinions on stories without having to look for valid sources. This is done heavily in corporate media nowadays to the point where even TMZ has become a “reliable” source that many media outlets use to report their stories. But why has it become like this? It has become more important to be the first to headline the news whether it's true or not. I know that it has been like this within a certain section of the media that monetizes on sensationalism but now it has grown into the big players in the media.

Today, everyone is an analyst but instead of using facts we just gave our personal opinion based on unreliable/unproven sources. But then what can we do when even our leaders don’t present factual information and whatever they present is used as a “reliable” source of information by journalist and commentators on TV and the Internet. There is a lot of this on the internet. What people don’t realize is that all those articles remain online forever.

You may be popular today but that doesn’t mean you will remain popular. By the way, don’t think that there aren’t people who don’t see what you’re doing, especially in the international community, and understand that the behavior in social media is just for click bait and monetize to gain from the stupidity of people. It’s just amazing to see people, who say the most stupid things (clearly ignorant, and happy to create sensationalism) are given a spot on prime time television Why? When there are so many people doing amazing work to help communities move forward.

Instead of having a fruitful discussion that could possibly end with solutions, we see a shouting match which is a waste of time because we are not listening and analyzing. We hear and react. There are problems to solve and people are getting distracted by the hysteria.

“Ignorance is Dangerous”

The new way of journalism has great consequences on society. People believe the misinformation and action it or get distracted from working on actual issues. It is so sad to see how people believe in fabricated news and how they are being manipulated.

Look, whether you like it or not you have to do homework if you want to be objective. Fact checking has become a necessity. Previously I used to read to Yahoo News & Google News to be updated on the latest developments. I learned I was getting just one side of the coin. The stories on top are usually sponsored and usually benefiting certain people reporting the news in their favor. I won’t say based on an incomplete investigation because there are good reporters who do their work diligently but when it gets to the top its changed. Illiteracy is dangerous and can have serious consequences for our way of life.