A summary of Susan Robinson's The Mission of the J-Blog: Recapturing Journalistic Authority, 2006.
J-blogs, blogs written by traditionally trained journalists, embody an alternative form of journalism, compared to traditional view of 'good' journalism. In many ways j-blogs resonate our postmodern society by embracing subjectivity, a holistic world-view, the existence multiple truths and interactive and overlapping sourcing.
Robinson's article points to the concern of a journalist’s role in our postmodern society. How does a postmodern journalist meet or voice a community’s needs? Should this imply an adaption in the way journalistic ethics are applied or does the postmodern society call for a new set of ethics?
Robinson analysed the j-blog content within the traditional elements of journalistic ethics as described by Kovach and Rosenstiel (2001) in a pursuit to answer these pressing and vital questions.
"Obligation to truth"
J-blog oppose traditional journalistic pursuits of one obsolete objective truth by reflecting multiple truths. J-blogs elaborate on existing articles, draw from and hyperlink to reader interaction and other journalistic or non-journalistic sources to produce content.
"An independent citizen watchdog"
J-blog journalists write as subjective and involved citizens rather than independent observers, as expected by traditional journalistic notions. Verified factual information is no longer the dictator of content; J-blogs largely rely on commentary information.
"A verified debate forum"
The traditional emphasis on verifying and using substantial sources are supplanted by communal discussion - regardless if it's based on rumour or truth. J-blogs depend on the interaction of readers through communal debate even at the cost of temporarily directing readers to competing news sources through hyperlinking.
"Significant, comprehensive news"
The traditional news models, created to communicate significant information in a comprehensive way, are challenged J-blogs as journalists use this medium as a platform to publish avant-garde writing and stories that do not mould into traditional news standards and formats.
"An ethical obligation"
J-blogs challenge the traditional views of "newsworthy" journalism by trusting in the collective value of information gathered within subjective and on-going online discussions instead of trusting on a few verified and substantial sources.
The conclusion
According to Robinson the analysis shows how the perspective of "news truth" have changed to resonate with our postmodern society; and "truth" no not being ruled by traditional journalistic ethics. Audiences actively partake in determining "news truth".
Ctrl Mind's opinion
Are journalists anything more than well-voiced citizens and discussion facilitators? Well, isn't that what we've always been? The essence of a journalist’s job is to uncover truth by collecting relevant information and then sharing it in a way that truthfully and holistically portrays the matter.
Be it verified or commentary information, our own opinion or the opinion of our competitors - it's our ethical responsibility to formulate a blatantly honest compilation of relevant information. It is this ethical responsibility that differentiates journalists from any well-other voiced citizen.
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