A few weeks ago I got an email asking me to identify my job industry from a list. Journalist made the list, but writer did not. I hate to be stickler, but I figured that hard-core journalists would not want to be lumped with other types of writers.
Anyone who works closely with words understands that choosing the exact right word can mean the difference between mediocrity and clarity. But some outside our circle use words interchangeably. To them, the words "writer" and "journalist" are synonymous. Both use words to tell a story. Journalists often employ narrative devices and writers sometimes incorporate journalistic details into their work.
But are they the same thing?
Most writers (and journalists for that matter) would say no. Sure, some journalists write novels and some novelists pen articles (not to say that all writers are novelists), but when it comes down to it, I think they are fundamentally different approaches to writing. There is some crossover between "writing" and "journalism," of course, but they are different disciplines.
I have the utmost respect for journalists. But I don't consider myself to be one. To me, journalism conjures images of people reporting from the trenches in Iraq, shadowing a police officer for the day, or interviewing citizens outside of a town meeting. And I don't do any of those things.
Sure, some people think writers suffer for their craft by spending long, lonely days in a freezing garret penning the Great American Novel. But most of us do not. I write web copy, which means talking to a client but rarely interviewing the competitor to get a "balanced" story (though I'd probably check out their site to see how they position themselves). I write essays, which usually requires introspection rather than external sources. I write lifestyle articles, but I have no illusions that covering cocktails or career topics will earn me a Pulitzer. And I'm OK with that. I'm happy to call myself a writer.
How about you? Are you a writer, a journalist, or something else entirely?
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
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20 comments:
It's a blurry world now. Are people who journal online journalists? I was going to raise my hand for "writer," but now I'm thinking "something else" works for me. Time to update my bio...
Hi, Mr. Sigars!! Great to hear from you. There's also "reporters" and "bloggers" and "citizen journalists," but I still feel like "writer" is the closest thing to what I do.
I was interviewed for a newspaper reporting job recently, and the editors who interviewed me all asked if I considered myself a better "reporter or writer." I thought it was a trick question at first, but one of my professors said that newspaper editors prefer to hire "reporters" over "writers" because of the investigative nature of journalism.
@Yana: what did you say? I agree with your professor. Especially at a daily paper, I would imagine that the ability to report quickly and accurately is more important than writing beautiful prose. Me, I go for beautiful (or at least funny or interesting) writing. That's why I'm a writer and not a journalist or reporter.
I am right with you, Susan. I am a writer but could never truly be a journalist. I could fake it but it isn't who I am. Just like I am a marketer who can wing it in PR, but it isn't really my thing.
I have a great deal of respect for traditional journalists who can show a balanced story and report events truthfully and accurately. I would rather pen lopsided, opinionated editorial myself.
I think, in today's world, a writer may be who you are by passion and what you are be trade may be many things - a copywriter, a blogger, an online content writer, a features writer, apromotional writer and on and on. AT least - that is what I have found myself to be.. and do.
Me, I go for beautiful (or at least funny or interesting) writing.
I have to agree with you, Susan. I like to call myself a writer. I really prefer cheerful, fun, inspirational, motivational - even devotional - over news or a boring topic. Not that news is really boring. It's quite the opposite, but you know what I mean. Oh, ignore my rambles. :-)
I think the fun of being freelance is doing a lot of different styles of writing, like Julie said.
Great post!
*smiles*
Michele
I always, always say writer. I've even asked people to change literature that calls me a journalist. For me it's based on the simple fact that I'm not a trained journalist and I want to make that very clear. Not because I think it makes me any less talented, but because I want others to know that you can study what makes you happy and turn it into a career that makes you happy. But that might be specific to Ireland, given that this country can be qualification mad at times!
Susan: Great new design! I hope you let us know what led you to it. And it's making me realize, I really need to update my own blog.
To your question: I have been a daily newspaper reporter, and because most of the work I do falls into the category of heavily reported pieces - whether they're service pieces for a consumer electronics Web site or industry trend analysis pieces for a trade magazine - I still consider myself a journalist. I just don't use that word in my bio or on my resume.
Best,
Michelle Rafter
Ditto, Susan. I like freelancing-- how-to, did-you-know, advice, research-- but I have more fun creating a piece than investigating a story. Journalism, to me, leaves less room for creativity; and it does not allow one to indulge in fictional work, either. I'll stick with the writer tag.
@susan: I said I thought both qualities were very important to the position - that when I'm out at an assignment, it's absolutely necessary to make sure I am getting all the necessary information as well as already thinking about a lede and the clearest way to convey the information I'm gathering. If I am a bad reporter, it doesn't matter how strong my writing is - I won't have anything to write about. But if I'm a bad writer who can't clearly share information, the reporting won't be effective or understood by the readers.
@Yana: sounds like the perfect answer! I hope you got the job.
I'm a journalist trying to transition to writer. After 13 years in TV news, I'm surprised at how many people who read my blog compliment me on my writing. Several have said they had no idea I could write that well. Apparently TV news doesn't conjure up the image of talented writer...
I consider myself more of a journalist than a writer. Even though I haven't been in Iraq or trailed a policeman for a day, I aim to report on and comment on differrent aspects of life today.
btw your urban musing offers great food for thought!
@Oscar: thanks for visiting the Urban Muse! Glad you find it interesting.
I say writer and others have referred to me as a "food journalist" - maybe it's old school but I think of journalists as those who do/or have work/ed for a news journal...?
Also, writer seems more encompassing and since I freelance, journalist sounds limiting. Consulting on website content? check. Writing press releases? check.
I think an interesting question is how we react to the words "post" versus "article."
Of course, the more (real) journalists get laid off from dying print mags, the more these sands will shift, I'm sure.
I am a writer and passionate about it too. Like you Susan, I write essays and lifestyle articles. But in order to inch out of my comfort zone, stretch my writing muscles and expand my horizon, I enrolled for the journalism course offered by the Writer's Bureau. Maybe I'll have the best of both worlds and use each to enrich the other. I'll let you know how it goes.
I consider myself a journalist. My diploma that says Master of Arts in Journalism has helped me decide between being a journalist and a writer. I also think the fact that I know how to report on an issue, get good interviews, ask the right questions, and write a story that follows journalistic guidelines helps. Can a journalist also be a writer? Can a writer also be a journalist?
@Mimi: Yes, I'd say a journalist could also be a writer, but not all journalists would want to be lumped with writers. I'd say that writers could also be called journalists, but I think there is a slightly different philosophy behind how people approach stories.
It's good that you noted there's a difference between a wrtier and a journalist as these two can have totaly different job prescriptions...
Whereas the former can use much more introspection and imagination if you will in their works. A journalist most often than not has to report clearly what is obviously happening at the time.
Personaly I consider myself more a writer and since i'm a poet and write several articles for an insert lifestyle magazine in a newspaper.
I've clearly had to demarcate the difference between the two.
However as Chuck Sigars said, it's a blurry world now.
This is a very interesting question.
I consider myself a writer. I've had no formal training as a journalist, and to me, a journalist has more defining parameters. It's true the lines are a lot more blurred these days, and as much as I dislike labels, they're important in marketing yourself and your work.
I associate journalists with news items and a definite discipline. Both terms encompass a different set of skills, though those can overlap.
Fascinating question. :)
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