[longtermmemmory]

What does it take to be a journalist? a reporter?

Remember the day when being a weathergirl meant she had a pretty body? (still true now just more clothing)

There is no "credential" required to be a MSM reporter. Just a mic and a camera or a computer and a newspaper willing to print what you write.

Those of the internet FORUMS and blogs are EQUAL to any credentials that the MSM mediots may profess.

[cgbg]

Those of the internet FORUMS and blogs are EQUAL to any credentials that the MSM mediots may profess.

I believe our credentials are far above those of journalists.

Let me explain.

(1) We state our opinions. They hide theirs.

(2) We have actual experts on any subject known to man here at FR or at any large blog. Don't believe me? Try making a stupid statement about the mating habits of fruit flies and see how long before a poster who works in the field shows you the error of your ways.:-) The media relies on a limited number of official sources that are usually "politically correct" since they are part of large organizations. Our "experts" are often the worker bees that have the facts uncensored by the PR flacs in their organization.

(3) We get immediate feedback if we say something incorrect. Reporters may take days to get the hate mail (unless they have the courage to read their email :-) ).

(4) We love the give and take of debate and disagreement. They hate it. There was a recent show on CSPAN where a group of New York Times reporters stated that they all hated their jobs, hated criticism, hated the blogs, hated the emails. We love FR. What you love you will always do better than someone who hates the task.

(5) We have a better medium with the opportunity to link to other threads, articles, web pages of all kinds. Therefore our communication is more in-depth, more precise, more thoughtful. They are stuck on a piece of paper that links to nowhere.

Now you know why they are very very afraid.