What is the difference between a journalist and a blogger?

[Dances]

Can a blogger just call himself a journalist?

Can a blog declare itself a newspaper?

Is there an accrediated scheme or can any old charlatan say they are a journalist writing for a newspaper?

So, if you are reading something online, how do you know if it is a properly researched professional piece/collection of work, or just the ramblings of someone with an axe to grind?

I think its very difficult to tell, even if its the on-line site of a traditional newspaper.

This review of the latest OJ book (2nd review for 'This Land') raises questions about his transparency.

www.theguardian.com/books/2020/sep/13/left-out-the-inside-story-of-labour-under-corbyn-this-land-the-story-of-a-movement-review

OJ is a columnist, not the politics editor, and I assume that there is a different expectation of somebody who reports generally on politics (albeit without hiding their opinions), like Stephen Bush, and somebody who just writes opinion pieces, but that difference isn't always clear if you just click on a link.

So heres a line I have just read in a very long, rambling and ranty book review on an online outlet...

Can you guess if its a journo or blogger... After a page of insults, pseudo-psychology and nonsense...

'...so is it a good murder mystery? Not really. It is way, way, way too fucking long...'

and it went on...

But then I know actual proper, investigative journalists, who do some good - bringing people, businesses and government to account. Not merely enthusiastic amateurs just enjoying the sound of their own voices and opinions.

@Dances

Ha ha Interesting that Pink News writes vicious hit pieces on JKR with impunity but the CEO goes crying to Justine when women talk about his demanding that the government enable access to women's bodies for surrogacy.

Journalism, blogging or bullying?

Best described as libel!

I think one of the reasons it can sometimes be hard to see there is a difference is that many "news" papers now do less and less reporting.

So many articles are closer to being comment.

I think this trend started before the growth of social media but had now take over. Although in some instances you could say that most newspapers exist to be the mouth piece of the editor or owner. And certainly some tabloids are ready to print non facts as facts for a good story, counting on sales income to cover any payout after the event - which will be remembered as the "truth".

There is very little Reporting any more ie collecting facts and passing them on to the reader / listener to then mull over.

But then it also comes down to the reader / listener who seem increasingly not to want to have to think through what they have read, but want it in ready quotable bites!

What does that make mumsnetters, many of whom seem to do far more research than so called quality papers.