Is Blogging part of Journalism?

The pros and cons regarding blogging being at par with or part of journalism is not new. In milis teknologia (googlegroups) Carlos Patriawan generate this issue once again in the midth of court appeal of Apple controversies in the US. Some friends, themselves are bloggers, also voiced the pros and cons. Enda Nasution agrees that blogging is part of journalism.

While Udhien still wants to wait the US court results, Basibanget sees the difference: journalism is a profession, while blogging is not; as Baskara thinks no more no less the same.

Interestingly, two most celebrated Iraqi bloggers, Salam Pax and Riverbend, all are of the opinion that blogism is not journalism. Riverbend argues that

Bloggers are not exactly journalists, which is a mistake many people make. They expect us to be dispassionate and unemotional about topics such as occupation and war, etc. That objective lack of emotion is impossible because a blog in itself stems from passion – the need to sit for hours at one’s computer, slouched over the keyboard, trying to communicate ideas, thoughts, fears and frustrations to the world.

The main point of Riverbend’s disagreement on this issue is that “journalism is dispassionate and unemotional form of reporting” while blogging or blogger is “impossible to do that.” Her point seems to be in accordance with the American Heritagae dictionaries defininion on journalism as follows (emphasis is mine):

-The collecting, writing, editing, and presenting of news or news articles in newspapers and magazines and in radio and television broadcasts.
-Material written for publication in a newspaper or magazine or for broadcast.
-The style of writing characteristic of material in newspapers and magazines, consisting of direct presentation of facts or occurrences with little attempt at analysis or interpretation.
-Newspapers and magazines.
-An academic course training students in journalism.
-Written material of current interest or wide popular appeal.

In the meanwhile, Wikipedia seems to regard blogging as part of journalism by not mentioning the word Riverbend objected to. So, from Wikipedia perspective, any good reporting, emotional or unemotional, in blog or conventional media, can be regarded as journalism and hence, one who practice it can be called as journalist and/or bloggist/blogger.

From the legal point of view, however, Wikipedia like everyone of us, is still waiting for the final ruling on Apple versus blogger issue. If the previous case (2005) is to be the judge precedent on current issue, the decision will be obvious:

…the blogs were not entitled to journalist protections with regards to preserving the anonymity of sources because they don’t qualify as a form of journalism.

In Indonesia, Herman Saksono’s alleged ‘insult’ against President SBY, by engineering President’s picture attached with Indonesian singer Mayangsari was the first case involving a blogger with the police officers which end up in ‘peaceful solution.’ There’s no such case in terms of blogger vs corporate, etc. Well, not yet.

Interview: Riverbend The Iraqi Female Blogger

Her Interview with Al Jazeera and About Blog Journalism

As reported by Al Jazeera, her blog is nominated as a finalist for the Samuel Johnson Prize for contemporary non-fiction (the announcement will be June 14 in London). Her other achievements: (a) It has been adapted into book form by UK-based publishers Marion Boyars and New York-based Feminist Press [1]; (b) March 2005, the blog was adapted into a play by a New York-based theatre production company; (c) Won third place in the 2005 Lettre Ulysses Prize for Reportage; (d) Won Bloggie (Blooker?) award 2006.[2]

Some excerpt from her interview with Al Jazeera:

The nomination is for the book based on your blog. What inspired the blog? Was it your intention to adapt it into a book?

Another Iraqi blogger, Salam Pax,[3] whom many consider the father of Iraqi blogs, inspired me. I guest blogged a couple of times on his forum and he encouraged me to begin one of my own.

I never thought it would be turned into a book even though I got several offers within a few months of blogging. I didn’t like the idea of turning the blog into a book at first because all the publishers wanted me to discontinue blogging. Feminist Press is the first publisher that didn’t want me to stop blogging.

Iraq inspires me to blog. While I began blogging as a way to vent frustrations and fears about the instability and insecurity, I continue because I feel the media covers the situation in my country in a very general way.

Many articles don’t even begin to touch the daily reality Iraqis face.

What are the realities that you feel are not reported?

Real Iraqis, the people currently suffering under a lack of security and a shortage of the most basic necessities like electricity and water, seem to have faded to the background while the media is busy with the failed attempts of the current government to organise themselves.

I’m also frustrated with the way the media oversimplifies certain situations – like the sectarian violence being promoted by the occupation forces and the current government.

But some of your detractors online have said you are unabashedly biased and anti-American and that you lament the ousting of the previous government. Is that true?

Unabashedly biased towards what? Iraq? One thing that bothers me is that many people equate being anti-occupation with anti-American.

I am not anti-American – I know many wonderful Americans and correspond and communicate with them regularly. I am, however, anti-occupation.

I don’t wish for the “days of Saddam”, if that’s what you’re asking. I am, however, completely against the presence of foreign troops in Iraq.

Where did you learn to speak and write in English?[4]

I was raised abroad as a child and was fortunate enough to have parents who encouraged me to read continuously in English after we returned.

What types of books did you read?

I read any book in English I could get my hands on. I read the classics – books by Dickens, Jane Austen, William Thackery, George Orwell and others. I also read books by American authors like Faulkner. I read books translated to English from other languages – Russian and French literature. Anything I could find in English, I would read.

Why do you maintain anonymity?[5]

Because it keeps me secure. In the beginning, I decided to be anonymous because it gave me the freedom to discuss whatever and whomever I wanted without fear of retribution – this includes political parties, religious figures, common thugs masquerading as political and religious figures, etc.

I couldn’t do this with the use of my name because I would be worried about detention or worse. People have been a lot less critical than I’ve been on my blog and they’ve gotten into a lot of trouble.

Blogging and journalism seem to be merging around the world. Are bloggers the new journalists?

Bloggers are not exactly journalists, which is a mistake many people make. They expect us to be dispassionate and unemotional about topics such as occupation and war, etc. That objective lack of emotion is impossible because a blog in itself stems from passion – the need to sit for hours at one’s computer, slouched over the keyboard, trying to communicate ideas, thoughts, fears and frustrations to the world.