Should only people working for accredited news organisations be able to call themselves journalists?
In the UK there is no statutory definition of a journalist and no legal restriction on who may use the title. HMCTS and police guidance recognise journalists via the voluntary UK Press Card issued through gatekeepers like the NUJ or letters from IPSO/Ofcom-regulated publishers, but freelancers and unaffiliated individuals can qualify on a case-by-case basis. Around 100,000 people describe themselves as journalists, including citizen reporters, bloggers and independent online creators who face the same defamation and contempt laws as professionals.
33 Opinions
The mainstream media outlets fail to cover issues of interest to the public, if it weren’t for independent journalists, we would think we were living in the ideal world in the ideal country, independent journalists bring us instant news and events the mainstream media who are mostly leftwing biased and under government censorship don’t. Stopping independent journalist from reporting would be government censorship, which is exactly what they want.
Gaza showed us Hamas activists cosplaying as journalists, but we can still trust people. For now. So the current system is fine in a trust society.
These accredited news organisations are often the ones peddling the fake news. There is more a case for independents to be called real journalists as they are not pushing a mandate.
This is just another attempt to stifle opinion, crush free speech & alternative opinions. We would just be stuck with the Uniparty globalist propaganda mouthpieces of mainstream media..
Who cares ?
Why? They are all now parrots repeating the same stories. Regurgitating pieces written in other outlets. So few are actually able to really go for people on all sides of an issue. Which makes their output biased. I would rather watch videos taken at the scene of incidents and make my own mind up.
The social media landscape as changed the business of news gathering forever, so calling those working for accredited news organizations will disenfranchise all others. However, all those that call themselves journalist should be required to either register with the NUJ or any other regulator the government has tasked with the duty of regulating that industry.
No. Compulsory membership of an accredited organisation such as NUJ should be sufficient.
Who gets to decide is someone is a real journalist ? It sounds like a way of stifling freedom of expression and a way to quietly censor people.
I voted no but you should at least have some form of qualifications or licence to call yourself that