by Travis Mateer
Who should be considered a journalist? This is a question I’m being forced to consider right now, so after a quick look online, I found an article from The Hill examining this question. From the link (emphasis mine):
The First Amendment protects the freedom of the press. But who qualifies as “the press”? Darnella Frazier was not an employee of any credentialed news media corporation when she pulled out her cell phone and recorded one of the most consequential stories of 2020. Neither was George Holliday when he used his camcorder to similarly record history in 1991. Without citizen journalism, Rodney King and George Floyd might not be household names today.
As these examples show, anyone can make and break the news. Citizen journalists are a crucial part of “the press.” And the Supreme Court now has an opportunity to affirm that independent journalists have the same constitutional rights as the corporate media.
Whether or not my work should be considered journalism is now a part of a legal matter I’m involved in, and since this legal matter recently went from civil to criminal, I will finally get some legal representation. Yeah for me!
While my status as a journalist appears to be an open question right now, I don’t think anyone would disagree with my assertion that I’m a POET, considering how frequently I demonstrate my rhyming abilities. For an example of my college-trained abilities, here’s my latest poem/song accompanied, as usual, by my ukulele. Enjoy!
If you appreciate my work, Travis’ Impact Fund (TIF) is one way to support it, or you can make a donation at my about page. Any little bit helps.
Thanks for reading!