Who Is A Journalist These Days?

By Steve Rubel
Expert Author
Article Date: 2005-03-13

NYU journalism professor Jefferson Flanders asks a question that's on a lot of minds ...

exactly who is a journalist these days? However, he says that some of this responsibility falls on the reader ...

Readers and viewers should ask simple questions. Is a story accurate? Is the proper context provided? Are the facts in the story pursued, without fear or favor, even when they lead to unpleasant conclusions? Is the reporter or commentator open about methods and motives? And, most important, is there an acknowledgement of what isn't known, of events or possibilities ruled out by conventional wisdom?

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About the Author:
Steve Rubel is a PR strategist with nearly 16 years of public relations, marketing, journalism and communications experience. He currently serves as a Senior Vice President with Edelman, the largest independent global PR firm.

He authors the Micro Persuasion weblog, which tracks how blogs and participatory journalism are changing the public relations practice.

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