A paper by John Kelly, published online by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at Oxford University, asks, “Is journalism a profession or a trade?”

Kelly acknowledges, “It’s a question that has
probably only ever interested journalists. It’s also a question that,
as the 20th century gave way to the 21st, seemed to somehow be beside
the point: suddenly you didn’t necessarily have to be a journalist to
do journalism. How did that happen?”

Kelly’s explanation,  Red Kayaks and Hidden Gold: the rise, challenges and value of citizen journalism, is a must-read, says the institute, “for all those wishing to understand the changing nature of journalism and how audiences are increasingly helping to shape the news.”

Hat tip to Laura Oliver at journalism.co.uk, who posted excerpts of Kelly’s piece, and to Jay Rosen for twittering it.