What is the logic that determines the difference between a journalist and a blogger? It’s a debate that throws the likes of mainstream celebrity blogger personalities and the pseudo-intellectual J-School journalists into the trenches of heated Twitter banter. Is it a framed Bachelor of Arts degree from an accredited university? Or is it the certain practices, ethics and “into the field” reporting that makes the difference?

If a degree is what separates a blogger from a journalist, than that logic must be applied to anyone with access to some platform of validation for any given career path.

Does the person with a kitchen and chef grade cooking supplies deserve the title of the next Emeril Lagasse? Does the man with a punching bag and monthly gym membership have the right to claim the title of the up and coming Floyd Mayweather?

Now that this logic is applied to several different situations, it sounds pretty ridiculous which is why I understand why bloggers get annoyed at the sentiment that college makes the difference, when it does not.

To that same effect, breaking stories with third or second hand sources from the comfort of one’s bedroom is hardly journalism, either. There is something to be said for the very personal and biased method to the average bloggers madness. In no way does that discredit the efficiency at which bloggers produce content, but it does call into question how they receive it, which ultimately separates them from being called a journalist.

While some bloggers are more evolved than others in terms of breaking stories, not all bloggers go into the field and interview the subjects of their blog posts, take the photos or even interview the sources. The copy and paste world has no place in professional journalism, and borrowing is more than looked down upon – it is enough to get you fired and exiled from ever returning to the profession again.

Neither the blogger nor journalist is more or less biased than the other, because even journalists write from an angle that is within the confines of the publication they are writing for. While that in itself goes against our code of ethics, it is accepted amongst the more established publications in our country.

Ethics and skill are the main differences between a blogger and a journalist. While both frequently dip into the opposing waters from time to time, I think it is best that both stay in their own lanes.