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It's like the opinion editor versus the daily beat editor. One is writing arguments and defending them, the other is trying to just present the facts of what happened.

Both are journalists, just different types.

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No documentary in history has "just presented the facts of what happened". Footage is edited. Even documentaries that are exclusively interview footage are edited down from huge surpluses of material. When you choose the 1% of material to present, it is not possible to just present facts.

That’s not the point. It’s about whether the film maker sets out to be balanced or to act as an auteur.

Regardless of intent, it is inherently biased

I thought that what you just wrote is literally the definition for journalist vs reporter. if all you do is reporting the facts since you are a daily beat editor, you aren't a journalist?

Even reporters through the choice of facts can give a slant.

"Man saves kitten from housefire" is different once you throw in "that he lit."

That doesn't change the definitions. Doing a terrible job (by neglecting to mention vital facts) doesn't change what reporting is (and/or should be) and how it differs from journalism.

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