Last night I was at HBO here in NYC on a Center for Communications panel geared towards journalists.

Several of the audience members asked about the difference between traditional broadcast journalism and Rocketboom.

First of all, I do not consider myself to be a journalist though I do on occasion commit acts of journalism. I have never studied journalism and everything I know about Rocketboom with regards to journalism mostly comes from other journalists.

I gather a journalist is someone who studies or is naturally inclined to think a lot about the same kinds of issues, committed and impassioned about reporting interesting stories. Someone with a method who puts the story above their own importance.

Even if you are not a journalist, it's likely you have told at least a few great stories and care as much.

Either way, one thing that has not changed with technology or time is the story itself.

The distribution and propagation of a story is much easier now, there are a lot more accidental acts of journalism and more people are participating yet a well-done, relevant and honest story is ultimately what I think people respond to the most.