Blogging as form of Journalism
“Definitely, [blogging] is a form of journalism,” Professor Rolando Fernandez said as he lectures in front of the Online Journalism class of the University of the Philippines Baguio.
For Professor Fernandez, an editor of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, blogging is indeed a form of journalism. Prof. Fernandez explained that blog is a means of accessing information and it renders
great help to journalists. 
The editor points out some advantages that could be sought by journalists in weblogs. He said that since a lot of journalists have their own blogs, blogging is used as an alternative means for these journalists to report news.
Prof. Fernandez cited TV reporters as an example. He said, “In TV, katiting lang yung pwedeng iannounce [ only little amount of information is being broadcasted], but through blogs, they can print and write about those behind the scenes.” According to Prof. Fernandez, blog is meant for more space to further enhance reporters and also expand the frontier on information access. In line with this, he said that people have more access to information and can have a new issue everyday.
Through blogs, not only can journalists report their writings but they also find their sources and stories in them. Prof. Fernandez quotes a reporter, “I get some tips in other people’s blogs.” He added another journalist, a columnist of Malaya who said that she gets more reactions from readers in her blog than in her column in the newspaper. In this sense, blogs widen the idea or perspective of journalist with regards to the topics that they report. Blogs serve as “light” or an informative source. However, Prof. Fernandez said that journalists should be guarded against “garbage information”. He said one should check and verify the information. In line with this, he, as a journalist himself, related, “I don’t just accept information. I verify them.” According to him, checking facts should be done because everyone, anyone can publish anything through weblogs. Journalists should be aware of this.
Basically, Prof. Fernandez considers blogging as a form of journalism however not all bloggers can be addressed as journalists. According to him, bloggers are journalists if they do the same thing what a journalist does. With regards to this, he said to the students, “You learned the basics [of journalism]. You have the advantage over those who have no training in journalism.”
The editor points out some advantages that could be sought by journalists in weblogs. He said that since a lot of journalists have their own blogs, blogging is used as an alternative means for these journalists to report news.
Prof. Fernandez cited TV reporters as an example. He said, “In TV, katiting lang yung pwedeng iannounce [ only little amount of information is being broadcasted], but through blogs, they can print and write about those behind the scenes.” According to Prof. Fernandez, blog is meant for more space to further enhance reporters and also expand the frontier on information access. In line with this, he said that people have more access to information and can have a new issue everyday.
Through blogs, not only can journalists report their writings but they also find their sources and stories in them. Prof. Fernandez quotes a reporter, “I get some tips in other people’s blogs.” He added another journalist, a columnist of Malaya who said that she gets more reactions from readers in her blog than in her column in the newspaper. In this sense, blogs widen the idea or perspective of journalist with regards to the topics that they report. Blogs serve as “light” or an informative source. However, Prof. Fernandez said that journalists should be guarded against “garbage information”. He said one should check and verify the information. In line with this, he, as a journalist himself, related, “I don’t just accept information. I verify them.” According to him, checking facts should be done because everyone, anyone can publish anything through weblogs. Journalists should be aware of this.
Basically, Prof. Fernandez considers blogging as a form of journalism however not all bloggers can be addressed as journalists. According to him, bloggers are journalists if they do the same thing what a journalist does. With regards to this, he said to the students, “You learned the basics [of journalism]. You have the advantage over those who have no training in journalism.”
posted by maricar @ 8/30/2006 06:17:00 PM
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