Why does matter if a poster is a journalist?

[Bestseller]

It seems to be an increasingly frequent occurance that a thread is killed by someone making accusations of a journalist using MN for research.

I've just started a thread asking opinions on something that interests me. It must be obvious from the quality of my writing that I'm no journalist but the accusation came in within a couple of posts and that will be the end of that.

Even if I was a journalist, if the thread is interesting and people are enjoying posting why do people feel the need to close it down? It's not like anything we post here is confidential.

I agree It's lazy of the journalist but I don't see where the harm is and it seems unnecessary to spoil threads just because you have a suspicion that the poster might be "researching". It feels almost spiteful, like I don't have the right to ask a question if there's a chance it might make an article.

I don't think people mind journalists too much, but they aren't the people posting here. It's people who write for newspapers - and I use the word "write" quite wrongly.

Because who wants to knowingly talk to a journalist on a chat site? Especially if it's research for some article in Take a Break or the Daily Mail.

What was your thread about?

Because in many cases it's just lazy journalism, creating a story. Post something controversial, sit back and harvest the replies for your item in the 'lifestyle' section of a tabloid.

Because people don’t want their experiences to be turned into Daily Mail fodder?

I've seen two this morning. Mine, which I know categorically is not intended for a paper, but was just something I was interested in people's opinions on (and isn't that what MN is for?).

The other was about the cost of weddings. If you don't want to contribute, then that's fine, but why trample all over a discussion other people are enjoying?

Journalists should just state that's who they are at the start of the OP, instead of pretending to just chat then using the thread for an article. Then everyone knows where they stand and can choose to join in or leave the thread.

Its not just lazy journalism, its dishonest.

You can't really mention weddings on here without it all going a bit

What was your thread about? Something out of the ordinary?

I'm not it sure my post got as far an qualifying to be called a thread and maybe that's because it was just boring but it was about how having an unusual name has affected people. Second reply had a go and there have been no more.

I'll have a look...

I don't disagree Upstart but I think a lot of the "journalist hunting" is done when the poster isn't a journalist at all. If someone's uneasy then obviously they get to choose not to post but by making these accusations they close down another poster's thread rather spitefully imo

Yes, karyatide but so is making accusations against innocent people

She means professional ethics obviously.

Some posters get very worked up at the idea a journalist might invade their "safe space" on the internet where they posted intending that only a select few hundred thousand would read such identifying information as views on how to pronounce scone, where the fruit bowl belongs, or how often posters wash their towels/bodies/floors.

Yeah sure, some threads are started by posters "innocently" asking about benefits or SAHM v WOHM, the intention being wind them up and watch them go but there's no reason to assume those are journalists IMO as there are plenty of posters here purely to be goady fuckers. Engage or don't engage I reckon. And plenty of posters certainly enjoy getting wound up!

Also it's a shame that the stories that get picked up on are really for the gossip and salaciousness, rather than because they are fucking terrible indictments of the way this government - building on it's illustrious predecessors - is continuing to shaft the vulnerable, the ill, the abused and the desperate.

If a journalist came on here because they wanted to do a piece exposing the cancer of misery going on in the UK today, they'd get plenty of good copy. Not that their shitbag rag would print it though.

So forget period poverty. Forget the weekly death toll of women killed by abusive men. Forget the fact that some kids are sharing shoes to go to school. Let's get cracking with a story about a fucking cake.

I may have gotten all worked up. Must be tea time. Now there's a story ...

WHAT BISCUIT IS THE MUMSNET CHOICE ?

I agree OP. I’ve been in a similar position to you under a different username.

Besides the threads I have seen turn into stories aren’t the open question type stories anyway, they are a person’s dilemma or a specific problem that’s been deemed newsworthy

Not saying that’s right of course ...

I think it's because your thread title was a question and then there were 4 more questions, and you didn't give much away about your feelings on the subject maybe?

I agree OnePotPlant. Almost any thread would make a reasonable story, after all the thread has our attention so is presumably something others would read too.

Journalists don't need to post obvious questions to get an article if that's what they're looking for. So calling out suspected journalists serves no purpose other than (I suspect) making the poster who's "spotted" it feel all clever and worthy.

Maybe Sparkling but I was looking for opinions rather than an argument for/against my view. In any case the reason for posting was that whilst I used to have a firm view, I'm now much more on the fence. And I'm still not a journalist

I just think it was the way it was worded. You know you aren't a journalist obviously but it just came across that way that's all.

The first reply made others think you might be.

I read the name thread before reading this one and instantly thought it sounded like a journalist! It's the way you wrote your OP. It sounds very like an interview but there was no explanation from you as to why you posted that question and no sharing of.your own experience. Screamed journalist to me.