What is a journalist?

A journalist is anyone who reports the news. In the past few years "anyone" has become literal, as journalism has become an interactive medium. Readers can add their comments as a story unfolds and expands, bringing new levels to the idea of journalism.

Audience interaction forces a writer to listen to their opinions. It also allows the readers to become journalists themselves. Thanks to internet publishing, anyone can produce news, even if they're not a journalist in the traditional sense. Non-traditional journalists can offer their views on news that interests them faster and more personally than the New York Times.

Lee Wilkins, a teacher at the Missouri School of Journalism, was recently quoted in the Times as saying “I think our profession has not decided whether bloggers are journalists.” (read the story here)