Posted on 06/19/2017 6:25:46 PM PDT by A Cyrenian
Do you consider yourself a journalist? Should you be protected by the first amendment like others are?
By posting on FreeRepublic, how are you any different than someone in the msm?
You research your topic, communicate your thoughts for everyone to see. And are likely to respond to anyone that questions you.
In all seriousness, doesn't that make you a journalist?
You may not had received a degree in journalism but how is that different than for example, someone on espn talking about something they have no experience? I believe those people call themselves journalists.
So are you one?
Good topic
Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!
Founded by the same guy as Survivalblog.com and author of “Patriots”, a good teotwawki novel.
Never been a journalist. Used to have a lot of respect for them. Used to.
Real News Journalism requires two elements most folks here lack, that is, Free Speech protection and expensive resources.
No dis, but few Americans have well protected freedom of expression, that requires an expensive legal team. Write that you are pro clubbing baby seals, and your home and work could suffer consequences.
Secondly, resources to research current events are expensive. Google is limited. Fake news journos have both elements but use it for wicked ends. A Breitbart journalist would have the elements, and truth at their back.
Rare indeed.
The amateur journo though, can be more interesting, especially when he or she is well read. That is a great compensator.
Uh, yea, sure. That’s what I meant. You packing 12 or 20?
Well said!
I draw a parallel between what goes on here at Free Republic, and the “Invisible Hand” of capitalism.
The “Invisible Hand” of capitalism sets prices for things via supply and demand, and the information fed into that invisible hand that makes it work comes from millions of people voting with their dollars, so that the right product and amount of that product gets where it is most needed. (Contrast that with a Soviet style planned economy where a small number of “important” people decide how much of something to make and where it will be sent to, resulting in warehouses full of unused goods, while people who need goods don’t get them.
The analogy I make to this “invisible hand” for Free Republic is this: Instead of a small group of “important” people deciding what is news and how current events are interpreted and communicated, we have the “invisible hand” of thousands of Freepers who participate in the analysis of news, and help each other to see things clearly outside the body of “news” shown by the “professionals”.
The difference is that on FR, we can discuss these things openly and with a enormous spectrums of opinions. And make no mistake, opinions on FR run the entire gamut from irrational and lame-brained, to thoughtful and brilliant.
But here, you have to defend your views. If you have an opinion, you can air it with a few restrictions. And if you are wrong, you will be called out on it and asked to support your position. Sure, there is a lot of peer pressure, and just nasty ad hominem attack, but there is also rational discussion.
Even better, here on FR we have a wide and far ranging store of knowledge provided by Freepers from all walks of life, many of those areas of expertise are brought to bear on an issue.
There was a Freeper who no longer posts, who had worked for 45 years (IIRC, but I cannot remember his name...I sure miss him. Very gentlemanly guy) in the energy sector, and knew a great deal. He wasn’t a bag of hot air or a faker, he knew his stuff and was an expert. Anytime something energy related showed up, many of us would wait to hear his opinion. And we have people who have experience and direct knowledge of matters relating to medicine, the military, aviation, politics, energy, media, art, music, you name it.
Our reasoned opinions on FR, when we can achieve them, are provided by the “invisible hand” of the expertise of many Freepers who can contribute to a discussion or issue and we all have a better view of reality because of it. We get to reach our views on their merits.
We don’t need a bunch of stinking journalists who live inside their own echo chamber.
Is your head up your ass? Then you might be a journalist.
The first amendment makes zero recognition of journalism. It mentions free speech, and the press. I think it simply protects the written word as well as the spoken.
There is zero justification to consider a journalist to have any protection that any other citizen doesnt.
I consider myself a journalist. Let me tell you about the time I and my marines crashed a helicopter, whereupon I did some hero kind of stuff. But I don’t like to talk about my war experiences. Too modest I guess.
About 10 years back there was a huge Dept of Ag scandal where they had some huge slug of cash for “Black Farmers” who’d been discriminated against:
So far, so good, right..?
Except it was a slush fund; even Yutes in apartments with a single Beer Plant in a terra cotta pot could qualify as a FARMER..!
So I say —me in my pajamas, down in the basement, that is— we are EXTREMELY legit journalists, each and every one.
>> few Americans have well protected freedom of expression, that requires an expensive legal team. Write that you are pro clubbing baby seals, and your home and work could suffer consequences.
And God forbid that you should EVER venture an opinion that might in any way be considered racially biased, or supportive of White Supremacy beliefs, or homophobic, or anti-Muslim. Caught voicing such opinions might easily cause you to be viciously attacked by the thought police, or ordered to attend special reeducation programs, or maybe even be tossed in the slammer for a few years.
The media establishment would love to restrict membership in their “profession.” Mika Brazinski believes it is her job to control what people think. Chris Cuomo thinks he has access to information that is illegal for the public to have. You can’t practice medicine without a license. However you can call yourself a journalist or a reverend without penalty. I found this out after I was elected Pope. Sorry, have to go. I work part time clubbing baby seals.
Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Michael Savage, Mark Levin, Laura Ingraham, Mark Steyn and others have referenced FR over the years; many of them are members or lurkers. All use FR as a source.
The demise of Dan Rather and the Dipsy Twits Dixie Chicks are even better examples of direct reporting with real consequences.
I have heard that people close to Trump frequent FR.
If they don’t...they should! (But I believe they do)
Can’t write, spell and make things up, so yes I am.
I am a sentient human being; therefore, I cannot be a journalist.
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