Readers on what a ‘journalist’ is

Last week this column discussed what it means to be a “journalist.” With social media providing anyone a platform to publish, does that make everyone a journalist? Does it take a degree in journalism to be a journalist?

The answers are no, according to several U-T editors who provided their definitions. The definitions boiled down to: a journalist seeks and publishes the truth, and is committed to accuracy, fairness, transparency, responsibility and accountability.

I asked readers for their thoughts. Many took the opportunity to say they believe stories by The New York Times and Washington Post are biased against President Trump. Too many news stories mix reporter opinion with facts, they said. And they criticized TV reporters and personalities for being too partisan.

Almost all those responding wrote lengthy emails.

Here are excerpts from a few:

Bob Lawrence from San Diego (Many readers will recognize Lawrence from his years covering San Diego news on TV): “As a former broadcast journalist for more than 40 years, most of which were spent covering the military here in San Diego, I believe the line has blurred between true journalism and opinion which passes itself off as news.

“True journalists are characterized by their ethics, that is: facts matter, truth matters and presenting both sides of an issue matters. When a former press secretary for the White House stated, ‘Well, we use alternative facts,' the line was not only blurred, it was destroyed.

“Our partisan divide has people seeking confirmation not information. Today, being adept with a cellphone or computer allows anyone to post whatever they want on social media. But it certainly doesn't make them journalists or their stories ‘news' unless they're willing to abide by the ethics that legitimate journalists follow.”

William Gammon from Point Loma: “I read three papers daily, the S.D. Union-tribune, Wall Street Journal and on weekends, The New York Times.

“All their major journalists are advocates. They make no pretense about what they are doing, but that doesn't make it right, and they are not held accountable. They are, in fact, in compliance with what their owners think they should be doing.”

Stephen Lyon from Clairemont (who earned a bachelor's in journalism in 1975 from

Penn State): “When reporting the news, the journalist should, to the best of his/her ability, accurately, without personal preference, report the event of the day.

“Too often, in today's society, especially in broadcast journalism, the reporter takes into account the network's slant or the reporter's slant on the subject matter.”

John Shepard of Vista: “I view journalists as trained professionals who provide an objective reporting of the news. Additionally, a true journalist discloses and separates their personal opinions and biases from depictions of reported ‘facts.' Sadly, contemporary broadcast and written journalists seem to have forsaken the latter.”

He noted two national broadcast news outlets and said they report news “in a grossly bias(ed) and yes, consistently liberal manner. ... I am an ‘Independent' and not fully supportive of the president's statements and policies, but their reporting is clearly prejudicial.”

Dale Rodebaugh of San Diego: “A 55-year member of the working press, I define a journalist as anyone whose livelihood depends on producing, preparing or promoting factbased information for public consumption. Among the cohorts will be major print media writers/editors/columnists, radio broadcasters, television news hosts, corporate PR people, bloggers or even those who post on laundromat bulletin boards.

“But ... journalists must be irrevocably committed to truth, accuracy, fairness and accountability. Those qualities are our only stock in trade. If we're not honest, we have nothing to offer because of the weight the printed word carries. However, not all handlers of information destined for publication qualify as journalists.”

Mike Dolan of Santee: “Reporting ‘actual events accurately' must be the cornerstone from which appropriate contemplation, decision, and action can proceed.

“It isn't surprising that there are bias(ed) media outlets either. It is, however, frustrating having to do research among them to gain a fuller perspective of some things.

“What I find very disheartening is an aspect nearly opposite of nonpartisan commonalities, is some people are choosing forms of social media ... that allow greater amounts of erroneous, distorted, crazy, and, or hateful rhetoric under the guise of ‘free speech.'”