So, there really is no need to write this… but in the back of my head… there’s a tinge of worry.<\/p>\n

Today, after reading some comments on Google+<\/a> about expecting the Internet to merge this historic photo of the deadly Osama mission<\/a> and this just-released photo of the first family watching the Women’s World Cup Finals<\/a>, I couldn’t help myself and mashed together within 10 minutes.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

No harm was done… it’s just another obvious Internet meme<\/a>. But I thought… perhaps over thought… what if some jackass attacks me and says this threatens my journalistic credibility. What if they say that if I \u201cfabricated\u201d this, could I have lied elsewhere?<\/p>\n

It’s unreasonable, no? Actually… not really.<\/p>\n

It seems like people are often looking for ways to undermine someone’s credibility. Taking quotes out of context, re-editing video, or Photoshoping an image is not uncommon.<\/p>\n

But there is a significant difference.<\/p>\n

One is to lie and the other… is just Internet humor. Perhaps no different from adding a poorly written caption atop a cute cat photo<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But still… while I shared it on Google+ — and fully knowing that by posting it online it would be shared \u2013 it felt weird to see someone share it<\/a>. I got worried.<\/p>\n

What if… <\/p>\n

In journalism, it takes years and years of hard work to build up your credibility… and sometimes one mistake to wipe it all away.<\/p>\n

That’s the time we live in at the moment. Not just for journalists, but newsmakers and civilians as well. <\/p>\n

Maybe that’s why I am writing this… an attempt to say THIS WAS AN INTERNET JOKE, NOT JOURNALISM.<\/p>\n

And that’s cool, right? RIGHT?<\/p>\n

Tell me it’s cool and that I’m over thinking this.<\/p>\n

P.S. The Internet gets it… someone just added Sad Keanu to the photo<\/a>!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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