Journalist vs Blogger

What is the difference between a blogger and a journalist?

Whilst journalist will have to be go through his editor, who act as his 'gatekeeper', before his news is published, blogger does not have such 'restrictions.'

I am, again, skating on thin ice here. Because blogging is something that is widely accepted now.

It just that, being someone who was raised in the nitty gritty of the traditional media before I embarked onto the blogosphere, I am 'concerned and worried' about the 'half-truths' that had been dished out by certain quarters lately.

I am not against gossip or whatever bits of news that you heard from the grapevine. I did that too. But before I post something, I normally will do my own checking first.

Just that lately, there are bloggers who simply post something which they casually heard. Or commenting, making stand, influencing or even criticising based on what they would like to believe.

Take, for example, trip by technical group comprised of reps from National Sports Council, Football Association of Malaysia and Ministry of Education to Everton football academy to check out the place, last month.

That trip was quickly branded as a waste of money, that Malaysia should not pick Everton, with one pundit - who obviously doesn't have much information on the topic - quickly wants to be clever and suggested that 'Barcelona is the better destination!'.

Let me ask you something - when you want to buy a car, what you normally do? You go to the showroom and have a good look at it first, right? How about if you want to marry someone? You check the person out, too, right?

So, if that's the case, why must certain quarters make a lot of noise when something is still just at the 'merisik' (finding out) stage? Unless they have hidden agendas which require all 'that noise' in order to realise it!.

To make it worse, little birds whisper to me that at Everton was never a shoo-in. Everton was just a few of the places which are being scrutinised. At the end, Everton might not be the one at all.

But I can also foresee that this certain quarters, if its true that Everton will not be the one, will claim credit that they ACTUALLY prevented the choice.

This is the beauty of blogosphere.

You can criticise something that not yet existed, crucify people whose sins were just to lead the 'merisik' delegation and then claim credit for something which is NOT supposed to happen in the first place! FANTASTIC!!!

Let's be objective, la.

That's why, for all the clamours of the modern era and freedom that the blogosphere provides, it has not won the battle of credibility that still tilts towards the traditional media.