by Audrey Levine

Created on: August 01, 2009

As bloggers and online writers become more prevalent in today's culture, the issue of whether they are more trustworthy than professional journalists has become highly contested and considered. Those who favor citizen journalists may look to the issues of bias and company policies to say that professionals are ruled by the information the newspapers are willing to print and the fear of offending supporters. They say citizens are not ruled by these concerns because they work for themselves and don't necessarily have to answer to anyone.

And that is all well and good, but the issue of trustworthiness is all about whether the information given is actually accurate, well-researched and supported - and that is where the expertise of a professional journalist becomes absolutely key.
Yes, a professional journalist has most likely had the education to take a position in the field, studying how to report the news, how to find sources and all the other material that comes with a college education in writing and journalism.

Professional journalists have been taught the importance of objectivity in reporting and are held to a standard that ensures they keep their own biases segregated to editorials and opinion pieces.

But, most importantly, the professional journalist has had the experience to know what is relevant, what readers are looking for and how to find the additional information to inform others. The professional has supposedly built up sources with people in the know, whether they be local officials, business owners or other regular citizens around town who can provide the accurate information to help residents know what is going on in their towns and the world at large.

I am a professional journalist with a Bachelor's degree in journalism, and I like to think that I have the knowledge necessary to do my job in an appropriate manner. I am a reporter for two local newspapers, and I cover municipal government, police and local business news in a job I have held for more than two years now. I have built up a list of sources - be they mayors, chiefs of police, council members, administrators or business owners - who I know I can trust to give me information, and who know they can trust me to accurately report the news. I go to these people to verify information, gather explanations and get the facts necessary to keep people informed. As a professional journalist, I have the resources necessary to provide correct information.

In my job, I also read online

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