Comments on: The Modern, Adaptable Writer https://wordsonpageblog.com/2014/12/the-modern-adaptable-writer.html a freelance writing resource. Thu, 04 Dec 2014 21:36:03 +0000 hourly 1 By: Paula https://wordsonpageblog.com/2014/12/the-modern-adaptable-writer.html#comment-13750 Thu, 04 Dec 2014 21:36:03 +0000 http://loriwidmer.com/wordsonpage/index.php/2014/12/the-modern-adaptable-writer.html/#comment-13750 Good quote, there, Cathy. Sad, but true.

]]> By: Cathy Miller https://wordsonpageblog.com/2014/12/the-modern-adaptable-writer.html#comment-13749 Thu, 04 Dec 2014 20:54:07 +0000 http://loriwidmer.com/wordsonpage/index.php/2014/12/the-modern-adaptable-writer.html/#comment-13749 Now I know why I hang out here – kindred souls! 🙂

Chet Huntly had this to say, “Journalists were never intended to be the cheerleaders of a society, the conductors of applause, the sycophants. Tragically, that is their assigned role in authoritarian societies, but not here – not yet.”

The "yet" may be. 😉

]]> By: Lori Widmer https://wordsonpageblog.com/2014/12/the-modern-adaptable-writer.html#comment-13747 Thu, 04 Dec 2014 18:59:33 +0000 http://loriwidmer.com/wordsonpage/index.php/2014/12/the-modern-adaptable-writer.html/#comment-13747 But you know, it's a really good point. A lot of the problems start and end with how you refer to yourself.

]]> By: Lori Widmer https://wordsonpageblog.com/2014/12/the-modern-adaptable-writer.html#comment-13746 Thu, 04 Dec 2014 16:30:03 +0000 http://loriwidmer.com/wordsonpage/index.php/2014/12/the-modern-adaptable-writer.html/#comment-13746 Sorry, Paula. I hate the term too, and I'd never refer to you in that way. You're a journalist first.

]]> By: Paula https://wordsonpageblog.com/2014/12/the-modern-adaptable-writer.html#comment-13745 Thu, 04 Dec 2014 16:18:57 +0000 http://loriwidmer.com/wordsonpage/index.php/2014/12/the-modern-adaptable-writer.html/#comment-13745 I cringe at the term "entertainment journalist," even if it's what some of my editors call me. Why? That's what the "reporters" on showbiz "news" shows call themselves. You know, the talking heads who insinuate themselves into their stories whenever possible, acting like they're buddy-buddy with the celebrities they interview…and then launching their own reality shows, getting paid to tweet about products, and acting as if they're celebrities, too.

It was annoying when I first noticed the trend 15 or so years ago. Now it seems some people take jobs as "reporters" for some of those shows as a stepping stone to fame. Their own fame.

I'm old school. I research things, interview people, and write articles. I keep myself out of the stories. I use the same approach no matter the industry I'm covering. I've never taken a journalism course – I didn't even write for a school paper – but I probably have higher journalistic standards than half of the people calling themselves "entertainment journalists."

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