Journalism is the activity of gathering, assessing, creating, and presenting news and information. A journalist is an individual who collects/gathers information in the form of text, audio, or pictures, processes it into a news-worthy form, and disseminates it to the public. Journalists can be broadcast, print, advertising, and public relations personnel, and depending on the form of journalism, the term journalist may also include various categories of individuals as per the roles they play in the process.
Journalism is distinguished from other activities and products by certain identifiable characteristics and practices. These elements not only separate journalism from other forms of communication, but they are also what make it indispensable to democratic societies. The purpose of journalism is to give people the information they need to make better decisions about their lives and society.
Journalists can specialize in several fields, including finance, sports, celebrity, popular culture, and politics. Their stories may be published in print or made available on websites or streaming services. Journalists can also specialize in investigative journalism, which involves uncovering news stories that involve wrongdoing or criminal activities.
Reporters are a subset of journalists who inform the public about regional and international events. Many journalists work as reporters, but not all reporters are journalists. In some forms of media, such as radio or TV, producers or research teams, rather than reporters, are responsible for fact-checking.
In summary, a journalist is an individual who collects, processes, and disseminates news and information to the public. Journalism is the activity of gathering, assessing, creating, and presenting news and information, and it is distinguished from other activities and products by certain identifiable characteristics and practices.
