What is the role of the professional journalist?

Citizen Journalists

What is the role of the professional journalist? What do we mean when we say that in today’s era we have expanded this role to include citizen journalists? Does this affect how we share news and information in a free society?

Think about the traditional work and role of the journalist as you approach this question. Consider the journalists portrayed in the movie, All the President’s Men, who were real-life journalists in the 1970s. Then consider how the role of journalists have changed, including how social media is creating a form of citizen journalist where everyone with access to a smartphone and the internet can film, post, and circulate stories of interest.

Answer the following in a thoughtful 1-to-2 page response:

⊛ What is the role of the professional journalist?

⊛ What do we mean when we say that in today’s era we have expanded this role to include citizen journalists?

⊛ Does this affect how we share news and information in a free society?

⇒ It may be helpful to review these two resources that further describe All the President’s Men. This link describes the work of Woodward and Bernstein from a journalist’s point of view: https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/watergate/stories/ringle.htm(Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

⇒This link leads to the PDF that includes the question sheet to gain background: http://jea.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/specialreport.pdf (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

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