Nowadays, we may all think that most things are the same especially if they look like. Apparently, we are gravely mistaken. There are some realities that remains to be harsh because they are the way they are and we can no longer change that. The public’s perception may change with the passing of time but there are certain things in this world that you can’t simply get away from or refuse to acknowledge because shortcuts are kind of popular now. Let us take writing, for example. Writing comes in many forms and can be directed to different audiences. Blogging is the most popular form today as it is the most convenient way for the public to appreciate the written text. Many bloggers even make a living from this once-hobby and is now a steady stream of income.
The problem is that blogging, while for the most part is flexible and accommodating, has many flaws. For starters, not all bloggers are required to study about blogging at school and get a degree for it unlike all journalists in the field who has to enroll in a 4-year course before they can practice their profession. The irony here is that today, more bloggers gain traction and popularity compared to conventional journalists who not only has a knack on writing but has elevated it to both a science and an art. Writing, whether we like to acknowledge it or not, is not just a flair but also has its technicalities you would only be privy of if you studied it in greater detail. Now that bloggers are gaining more worldwide recognition than more respected and notable journalists and has thus, sparked a debate on which of the two is better, perhaps.
In the weeks since the blog was launched in late June, Milton has taken aim at journals that charge doctors to publish their articles, medical organizations that promote "late-breaking clinical trials" that aren't, nursing organizations that offer "quality" awards to hospitals, primary care physicians and, in two blogs about the preauthorization practices of insurance companies.
In these commentaries, Milton shares his experiences and his opinion on what they mean for medicine and the public.
All of Milton's blogs are popular with MedPage Today users and some of them have been phenomenally popular -- especially these two: Are Payers the Leading Cause of Death in the United States? and Who Actually Is Reviewing All Those Preauthorization Requests?
The second of those blogs is so popular that it has been the most read article on MedPage Today for most of the past week, and therein lies the unintended consequence.
(Via: https://www.medpagetoday.com/columns/fromtheeditors/69389)
With social media’s popularity today, even total unknowns can be viral superstars and enjoy their 15-minute of fame with the right material to capture the public’s fancy. And as such, professional journalists are somewhat worried at the impact of most popular blogs to the people since they may not always convey the right and unbiased message to the public. It is not that they undermine the research done by bloggers but maybe that’s exactly it. Doing random Google search is different from the amount and extent of research done by tried and tested journalists. They will not easily post an article without making sure all angles have been looked at and the people can get a full perspective of the issue.
Today, getting information is as easy as opening a browser on your computer or phone, typing in a question and waiting a nanosecond for a long list of links to load. These websites will promise to answer your question. But actually, they may not be all that trustworthy. What do you do?
Figuring out which site is believable and which is bunk takes work. Vetting that information is not impossible, though. In fact, it’s what every good journalist does daily. And students and other non-journalists can learn from the methods reporters use to determine the truth of what they read and hear.
There are plenty of people who call themselves a “journalist.” What separates a good journalist from a bad or lazy one is often where they get their information. Good reporters are always on the lookout for a “scoop” — new information or new interpretations of existing data. But for them, a scoop is worthless if it’s based on bogus or misinterpreted data.
(Via: https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/blog/outside-comment/fact-checking-how-think-journalist)
You can’t blame journalists from questioning the credibility and qualifications of some renowned blogger especially if they already have a large following since they have a big impact to society. People actually read their contents and most of the time believe them too, so it is but a must to orient them to the gravity of their influence to society. They should put just as much thought into the contents they write and verify their sources before they publish anything. News travel fast these days since the explosion of the web and with smart technology taking the forefront of our lives. Browsing the web for news and ideas is as easy as striking a conversation to the person next to you. Bloggers should take their cue from journalists in writing powerful pieces that may influence the public, sway opinions, or start arguments where there should be none.
Is Blogging At Par With Old-School Journalism? See more on: SoulVisual Blog
source https://www.soulvisual.com/blog/is-blogging-at-par-with-old-school-journalism/
