Who's a reporter today? As our definition of 'journalist' evolves, do our expectations and standards evolve as well? The blogospheric fallout seems to just be gaining momentum in the debate over identity, integrity, and professionalism.

Mayhill Fowler, the Off the Bus citizen journalist who first reported Obama's 'bitter' comments - which were made at an event closed to "the press" - is now the source of another off the cuff (and likely presumed to be off the record) comment.

Fowler worked her way to the front of the crowd at a campaign event in South Dakota, and as Bill Clinton took her hand, she asked him to respond to a recent unflattering article on the Vanity Fair website. The former US President spouts on the "sleazy" and "slimy" article, even calling Todd Purdum, the author and former New York Times reporter "dishonest."

Within hours, Fowler had posted about the exchange, along with her audio recording of the three-minute conversation on Off the Bus.

In her post, Fowler refers to herself as "this reporter," yet at no time did she identify herself to Clinton as a journalist.

The New York Times 'Week in Review' picked up the issue, asking, "In an era when anyone with a cellphone and wi-fi connection can make like Tom Brokaw, do the long-accepted conventions of engagement (like a reporter's volunteering who she is without being asked) still apply?"

The blogs have digressed into an interesting parallel as they debate the Fowler incident:

Politico blogger, Michael Calderone, called Fowler "disingenuous" and criticized her practices. In turn, Jeff Jarvis critiqued Calderone's post, which he viewed as playing into the "clubbiness of the press."

Then it gets interesting - Calderone both emailed and called Jarvis to complain about the post. "I arrived home and found a comment on my post that echoed his opinions closely under the name Mary," explains Jarvis on his blog.

"Mary" defends Politico (and calls Jarvis' post "disgraceful" and "totally off-the-mark"), but does not claim any Politco affiliation. Yet Jarvis reports that the comment is in fact posted from the Politico IP address - "the irony."

And so the debate continues, on the level of anonymity acceptable on comment boards and over the role and standards acceptable for citizen journalism.

In his next post, Jarvis comments on the "ethic of identity," and argues for full disclosure, online or off.

Source: BuzzMachine