A Journalist By Any Other Name?

The Annenberg Public Policy Center conducted a poll from 7 March to 2 may asking people who they considered journalists.

40% considered Bill O'Reilly a journalist.

30% considered Bob Woodward a journalist.

27% considered Rush Limbaugh a journalist.

Of course, the director of the Center, Kathleen Hall Jamieson, "said the results of the poll suggest the public defines the word 'journalist' far differently than those in the press define it."

Journalists (perhaps that should be in quotes?) were also polled. No surprise on their results.

11% considered Bill O'Reilly a "somewhat close" to being a journalist.

93% considered Bob Woodward "somewhat close or very close'' to being a journalist.

3% considered Rush Limbaugh "somewhat close" to being a journalist.

And I'm sure all those "journalists" consider news-readers like Dan Rather, Tom Brokaw, and Peter Jennings "journalists." How about Jason "I make stories up!" Blair? Is he a journalist?

How do "journalists" define the word "journalist"? Someone who makes things up and does whatever it takes to create a story? Then I guess I would agree that Bill O'Reilly and Rush Limbaugh aren't journalists.