Who is a journalist?

Does anyone who writes for or works in a journal automatically become a journalist? Do writers also qualify to be journalists? What's difference?

A tough line to draw, the separation is difficult. But some broad differentiation can be made.

Before that, what is journalism?

It's a social science, which chronicles and discusses issues that affect the social, economic and political aspects of a society. It's also a conduit for information concerning these three to flow.

A journalist is one who works on the above process.

Journalists have a huge responsibility, since they track the flow of information, determines "What is News" and gives a sense of importance to different events that take place. They are, to a large extent, the ones who determine what people should read the next day or watch on TV. They sort of set the agenda for the society. They are gatekeepers to information.

As we said above, anyone who writes or controls in some way the transfer of information to the audience, is in a sense a journalist. That's why bloggers are also being identified as journalists.

A journalist is someone who conforms to a number journalistic rules and parameters. What are they?

- Journalist has to be obsessed with facts, and language. She can't go wrong in these.

- Journalist has to make right attribution to facts. Information should be credibly sourced and acknowledged.

- Journalist should be subject to correction. If a mistake is pointed out, it must be verified and a correction put out. This is just to illustrate that a journalist always makes an attempt to check the accuracy of facts.

- Journalist has to have a sense of social responsibility. Well, that is a bit vague. But generally what is implied is: she should be committed to a healthy, peaceful, orderly society and be committed to its development and progress. If a journalist writes about fashion or live-in relationship or same-sex union, well she can't be accused of being socially irresponsible. Because she is discussing a social subject. How she discusses that could well make a difference, and determine if she has breached the restrictive line.

- Journalist has to be fair. Complete objectivity is a myth, since a certain amount of subjectivity does come in. But what we are talking of is balanced coverage. If an accusation is being levelled against an individual, that individual should be given the right to have his or her say in the matter. Reportage should not be one-sided, but should be well-rounded covering many angles of the issue.

- Journalist has be a good communicator. His writing has to be clear, compact and coherent.

These are some of the guiding principles. These are the parameters that make a journalistic writing different from any other. A writer can afford to a bit vague, can take liberties with language, articulation of opinions etc. But journalist can't deviate too much.

So, we can have a few categories to make things clear:

1. Professional journalist: who works for a publication as a full-time or part-time or as a freelancer. She could also be a blogger who conforms to the above parameters.

2. Amateur journalist: who isn't so serious about the above norms. She does more of first-impression reportage, not-so-well rounded analysis of issues. Hers is more of off-the-cuff opinions and viewpoints, often personal.

3. Writers: who write. They could be good, bad.

So, I guess the definition of a journalist is more or less clear here.

Please feel free to interact; ask doubts or post your comments.