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Only 5% Of Bloggers Are Journalists

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the someone-getting-called-to-testify-soon dept.

ObsessiveMathsFreak writes "A recent study has concluded that only 5% of bloggers have news as their primary topic. The study was conducted by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, and found that 37 percent of the surveyed blogs were reporting on their personal life, 11 percent on political matters, 7 percent on entertainment, and 6 percent on sports. There's also plenty of extra data in the report itself. From the article: 'About 34 percent see their blogging as a form of journalism; 65 percent disagreed. Just over a third of the bloggers said they often conduct journalistically appropriate tasks such as verifying facts and linking to source material.'"

8 of 149 comments (clear)

  1. Only? by linvir · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Only? Since when was it expected that any bloggers were journalists? The only blog I know of that even comes close to journalism is Slashdot, and we all know how that turned out...

    Personally, I've always just seen it as a way to share my random shit with the rest of the world. And judging by all the other blogs I've ever read, I'm not alone in that.

    These figures are absolutely not a surprise.

    1. Re:Only? by joe+155 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I would be amazed if it was as high as 5% too, although when I looked at TFA if seemed to be saying that it was infact 5% of people who have "the news" (whatever that is) as their primary topic. I have a blog which is exclusively about current affairs, does that make me a journalist?... I also have a blog which is about linux and pre-1662 hammared silver coins... does that make me a nerd?

      --
      *''I can't believe it's not a hyperlink.''
  2. Way higher than 11% by big+tex · · Score: 4, Informative

    5% are reporting on the media. The ones discussing sports, entertainment, politics, etc. are on a journalistic bent, whether or not they cover the media.
    This is like saying that the only journalists at NPR do the "On the Media" show.
    Once again, lies, damn lies, and statistics.

    --
    I think I need a new sig here.
  3. 5%? That's a lot by appleprophet · · Score: 4, Informative

    Very misleading headline... The article is about how 5% of blogs are about news in the real world, as opposed to emo LiveJournal/Xanga stuff. Calling anyone with a website who writes about something they saw on TV a journalist is kind of strange.

  4. Type Mismatch by fuzheado · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Slashdot headline - "Only 5% Of Bloggers Are Journalists"

    Slashdot summary - "About 34 percent see their blogging as a form of journalism"

    Er, get it right.

    The article said "only 5% of bloggers have news as their primary topic."

    News is a form of journalism, but not all journalism is news.

  5. In other news... by identity0 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Only 5% of world leaders are massuers.
    Only 5% of governors of California are film stars.
    Only 5% of beer is alcohol.
    Only 5% of Slashdot stories are dupes.
    Only 5% of a woman's body is different from a man's.
    Only 5% of English soccer fans are hooligans.

    Sometimes, it's the exceptions that make things interesting :)

  6. From Dictionary.com... by Jason1729 · · Score: 4, Informative

    journalist (jûrn-lst)
    n.
    1. One whose occupation is journalism.
    2. One who keeps a journal.

    By definition, 100% of bloggers are journalists.

    Also there's nothing in the definition relating a journalist to writing about news.

  7. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Comment removed based on user account deletion