G. Frink's

Any blogger who tries to slip past issuing corrections by declaring "I'm not a journalist," is deleted from my bookmarks.

Image by Harry Wad

As naturally as a bear killing rabbits, I salute Jocelyn Newmarch's criticism of a fellow South Africa Mail & Guardian Thought Leader blogger for using that excuse. She was at her best when she wrote:

... the promise of blogging is that all this multiplicity may enable us to think more rigorously and critically, to deepen the level of debate, and to respond to our society with greater compassion. But it can only do that if we?re willing to find the truth, however quiet or mundane it may be.

Buster at the Biblical Recorder Editor's Journal addresses that challenge to religious bloggers, concluding:

Yes, the unofficial motto of the blogosphere -- "we fact-check your ass" -- can be relentless and unforgiving.
Shouldn't it be?

Andrew G.R. seems to me to be close to the mark when commenting on March's piece for the Blog Herald. Addressing the question, "Are bloggers journalists?," he concludes:

In my humble opinion, it all depends on the type of blog you are running. One thing, however, is certain: you should always tell the truth and be prepared to defend your post, regardless of your blog?s size.

There seems to be a coherent standard here:

Write honestly, with painstaking attention to the facts when facts are used, and be prepared to honestly defend your work.

Having once upon a time served for years as a newspaper opinion writer/editor, that sounds to me very much like the meat of a job description for a newspaper editor.

Which brings me to a longstanding personal conclusion:

Bloggers who aren't journalists and who are blogging about matters of factual import, should all aspire to be.