The discussion between the validity of Consumer Generated Media {CGM} (a.k.a User Generated Media) and professional journalists has been raging for a few years now. Journalists shun many a blogger for lack of facts and accountability in reporting. While bloggers often discount journalists under conspiracy theory tags for being in the pay of big corporations. While there are some arguments on both sides, the fact is, Social Media and CGM is only going to grow. With the proliferation of mobile devices and increasing availability of Web access anywhere this is pretty much guaranteed. How will this shape the future of media? Who will win?

Without any doubt at all there is a very strong place for professional journalists. Professional media constantly debates it’s ethos and standards and impartiality. It is vital to the proper coverage of issues. Additionally, CGM via Blogging and other Social Media tools plays a critical role in how we as people are developing conversations and sharing ideas and knowledge.

Based on our experience over the years and through developing our own product, we believe that there will be an even greater need, and demand, for professional media. Simply because there are standards in professional journalism. Social Media is not about telling a factual account of events to inform the public in an unbiased manner. Social Media is about opinions, sharing ideas and expression. Social Media is a “conversation” whereas a professionally written article is about delivering a non-fiction relation of an occurrence or events. Therein lies the distinction. And it is critical.

The public does know that bloggers are not professional journalists, even though quoting them is a regular occurrence. People are beginning to differentiate between Social Media and Professional Media, and this will only increase. Traditional newspapers and magazines haven’t been a two-way medium, whereas blogging has always been a 2-way medium. As time goes by, professional journalists will, we believe, gain even more status and credibility in the eyes of the public. Professional media houses may find themselves increasingly becoming Centres of Trust to the public. Some bloggers will also evolve to become Centres of Trust, as they will adopt more of the standards of professional journalism over time. Some already do.

It is important for journalists to understand that the “Blogosphere” is still very very young compared to traditional media, what blogging is today will change dramatically in the coming years. So in the end, there really is no single “winner” in this race. Both mediums operate under different premises and it is this difference that will continue to validate, and shape, both communications tools.