Q What's a "journalist"? Used to be journalists covered news events as objectively as humanly possible. Now we have bloggers who write in real-time and pundits who analyze the news and offer their opinions. One poll even found a quarter of all Americans 18-29 years said they turned to "The Daily Show" and "Saturday Night Live" to learn about and understand the news. Are these shows informing, entertaining, or editorializing? Should news be entertaining? Please review "The Journalist's Role" on pages 8-11 in the Handbook of Independent Journalism located in the Course Resources and Chapter 2 in The News Manual before tackling this discussion prompt. In addressing the main questions of this discussion prompt, please also discuss some mix of the following questions in your response. Are bloggers and pundits crossing the line to editorializing with their biased questions, interpretative news and public advocacy? Or are they adding the kind of texture and depth to the news that unbiased writers can't offer? Is a pundit a journalist, or do pundits give journalists a bad name? What exactly qualifies one to be a journalist or a pundit? What does a journalist do that's different from a pundit and vice versa? Is Stephen Colbert a journalist or a pundit? What about Seth Meyers? John Oliver? Trevor Noah? What were Jon Stewart, Chris Matthews, Larry King, and Lou Dobbs? Objective: To identify the differences between facts and claims of fact and recognize the role professional journalists play in assessing the newsworthiness of information and events. Deadlines: Initial responses to this discussion question should be posted by 11:59 p.m. ET Saturday. You will need to post your answer before you can see anyone else's responses here. Best practice: Before you submit your initial response to the discussion question, click "subscribe to this thread" beneath the message box. This way, you will receive and be able to respond immediately to notices that someone has commented on your remarks, which can help make these discussions more like conversations. Replies to each other's initial responses are due by 11:59 p.m. ET Tuesday. You should comment substantively to at least two of your classmates about their posts as well as respond to any inquiries or comments they may make about your post. (Response required.) - 30 - ©2022 University of Maryland Global Campus