As usual, I am live-blogging so notes will be rough and I won't get everything :-) Staci's blog http://sdk.typepad.com/ Discussion specific page.

This is not a discussion of journalism vs. blogging. This is not a discussion about what's wrong with media or blogging. What this is about is committing journalism.

The US does not have the right to license journalists. Anybody can do it. It's up to you to build/earn your reputation. Sometimes working for a specific paper can get you started, but you still need to learn and earn your reputation.

Staci's definition of a journalist: They did not sign a oath, it's what they do for a living. Anybody who claims to be a journalist should adhere to certain journalistic ethics.

Bloggers committing journalism should.... we need to fill in the blank

Rex Hammock: I wouldn't call what I do journalism, but blogging is too new to start defining things too much. There is a commentary aspect to blogging, people can bring instant commentary whether that is serious or humorous. Transparency allows you to learn about who the reporter is and what their background is.

Ed Cone (sp?) : What is journalism. News in an organized fashion. We think of newspapers or online sites, but it can be in the form of an opinion column if you check your facts.

Ed Heaton (sp?): 1990 Chris Lash wrote an essay on the lost art of political argument. Argument is stating a a point and backing it up with facts.

Aaron: Why are we defining journalism? By trying to define a professional journalism are we segmenting the profession?

Staci: I do not feel that you need to be objective as journalism, but the theory of objectivity is a slippery slope. Sometimes journalism plays a gatekeeper role, taking the thoughts of many and presenting them. Journalism is not a profession, it's an activity. She makes her living as a journalist so that is what makes her a professional journalist.

Commenter: Journlism is the presentation of news or events supported by facts balanced by third-party editorial review

Rex: Is bloggers commenting third-party review?

Commenter: Technical writing has a different type of objectivity, as opposed to the presentation aspect of other types of journalism.

Staci: How many in the audience have blogs (a few dozen) About half of those who blog are doing what they consider journalism.

Commenter: I run a magazine, so by our nature we select certain articles to write so is there objectivity there?

Staci: As soon as you begin to select what your write about you are giving up some objectivity, but you must make sure you are selecting what people want to know.

Dave Winer: Ethics, two basic rules. Disclose all relevant interests. Always tell the truth. Dave didn't like that he couldn't be friends with people he wrote about.

Commenter: Pre-telegraph it was difficult to get facts. The various media sources, i.e. papers, internet help spread facts quickly. But the facts can sometimes be overwhelming. It might be the role of journalism to make some context of the facts. There is the ability to serve niche markets.. (my note: sounds like the long tail to me).

Staci: Brands can add to credibility, but they also might add a bias. For example if writer X who writes for paper A, people might say they might be liberal/conservative, etc. The code of ethics was recently revised. It is a guideline. From www.spj.org:

-Seek Truth & Report It
-Minimize Harm
-Act Independently
-Be Accountable

Commenter: Seek truth? Which truth? There are often two sides to every story.

Staci: Take a look at the fine print of the ethics on www.spj.org

Rex: Fiske-ing - dissecting the work of somebody often line-by-line.

John J. Hooker (pictured right): The blogosphere is the most important thing to happen in country in history, specifically for the preservation of democracy. It is a key part of the constitution and the first amendment. Journalism is the ultimate tool to protect ourselves from the government.

Staci: Let's spend the rest of the time talking about how you practice journalism.

Commenter: Me! I asked about about how far do we go with transparency? and talked about the hyper-local stories that I have written.

Commenter: What are the issues with how you choose your sources? Yes you are presenting outside facts but they may biased.

Staci: Simple example, If I write about about what's for lunch at school that is journalism, but what happens if I discuss the nutritional value of the meal?

Chris Nolan: It's not doing journalism or committing journalism, it's reporting. Serving your readers.

Commenter: Nasvhille's Talking is a local Nashville blog that is committing journalism in this local market. They also aggregate content from other local bloggers so they are amplifying the local market.

Hoder: Hoder.com I am filling the gap between the Iranian media and the international media. There are things that are being ignored by many media outlets. He blogs in two languages (English and Persian) He sees three functions:

-presenting the facts
-challenging
-creating public debate

MSM does the presentation of the facts, but facts can be wrong. Blogs are performing something that MSM is not doing. MSM used to do it, but they are not doing it now. Two well known reporters with the MSM are not linking to each other and debating each other via comments. Blogs can do this.

Dave Winer has uploaded some photos from the session.

Next up is Dan Gillmor on Staci's notes and notes from Frank Paynter.

Photos from Frank Paynter's photostream

Tag: blognashville