RELATED STORY: Journalism isn’t for everyone, especially Joe the Plumber

There is nothing wrong with citizen journalism.

I can say this proudly and with certainty as I sit in my mom’s basement in my underwear writing this column. I’m not kidding.

The stereotypes of bloggers and citizen journalists are that all of them are untrained, lazy and dumb. That’s not the case. But that is what many in the mainstream media try to convey in order to make themselves feel elite and important. I’m sorry, but as part of the mainstream media, I feel like part of our industry’s problem is the way it flaunts its elite status. Let me assure you, there isn’t anything elite about me.

Except my pants-less writing style. Back to the point.

Recently, campaign darling Joe the Plumber was flown to the Middle East to report on the current Gaza conflict. Yes, the same man who isn’t really named Joe, doesn’t always pay his taxes and is the hero of the conservative movement because he made President-elect Barack Obama seem like a communist has been chosen to let you, the average American, see the Israel/Hamas war from his eyes.

Do you think Joe asked Ehud Olmert, Israel’s prime minister, if he believes in sharing the wealth? Doesn’t matter. Even if he did, he has the right to, as a credentialed journalist. Sure, Joe the Plumber isn’t the most qualified. He doesn’t even really make much sense. But some Web site/news organization took a chance on him, so he’s going to do his job. Just like I do mine.

Journalism was founded on everyday people being able to voice their opinions. What started as pamphlets voicing disapproval of the British turned into political parties creating slanted news in their own newspapers. Then, the industry turned to objectivity and has spiraled into elitism. Which is probably why you don’t subscribe to a large newspaper or even pick up the Kernel daily. You’re tired of hearing and feeling like journalists are controlling everything.

But the truth is, not every blogger is still living in his mom’s basement. And not every citizen is so awful as a journalist. Is Joe the Plumber unqualified? Hell, yes. Does that mean he shouldn’t be reporting? Hell, no. If someone is dumb enough to pull a publicity stunt and hire him to report, that’s their problem.

Citizen reporting is not a problem. Media snobbery is.

You — don’t look around, once again I’m talking to you — could do my job as a reporter. Could you do it as well as me? We don’t know that. But journalism isn’t a career where you need extensive, rigorous training like medical or law school. The main tools of journalism are simple: knowledge of Associated Press style, ability to ask the right questions and find the right answers and usually good investigation senses.

Yes, training helps and improves your ability of being a good journalist, but journalism doesn’t have to be that complicated. In fact, people are pushing the industry to de-complicate itself. Many point to blogs and online news organizations as the fall of the industry. Smart people point to greed and elitism.

So start a blog, a Web site, something to let people know how you feel. If people want to get a good laugh or a good cry out of your work, power to you and them. If you want to try your hand at serious journalism, go ahead. Democracy was based on the fact that people have a right to say what they want, how they want to do so. No censorship, no elitism, just free speech. Try your hand at journalism. You may be a natural talent or you may just find that career path isn’t for you. But just because you don’t have training doesn’t mean you can’t report.

Joe the Plumber deserves the same rights I have; even if he doesn’t report as well as I do. Just kidding, Joe, you’re better with your taxes anyway. Oh … wait.