What is the difference between blogger and journalist

Can anyone explain to me the difference between blogger and journalist?

According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary: A blog is a "web site that contains an online personal journal with reflections, comments, and often hyperlinks provided by the writer." A blogger is the author of the blog in question. On the other hand, a journalist is "a person engaged in journalism; especially (a.) writer or editor for a news medium (b.) a writer who aims at a mass audience."

In addition, journalism is described as the following: "1 a: the collection and editing of news for presentation through the media b: the public press c: an academic study concerned with the collection and editing of news or the management of a news medium 2 a: writing designed for publication in a newspaper or magazine b: writing characterized by a direct presentation of facts or description of events without an attempt at interpretation c: writing designed to appeal to current popular taste or public interest."

As you can see, journalists tend to write about news events and facts without interpretations, but is this really the case. As we saw from the 2008 election, the news media were disgustingly bias in favor of Obama. They interpreted their coverage based on personal opinions and wanted professional gains. Bloggers also write about facts uncovered by the news media. They just tend to throw in their own two cents. Does this make them any less than a journalist? In addition, like journalists and the media which strive to reach the masses, bloggers write on sites which have equal opportunity to reach the masses. They are open to the public 24/7 via the world wide web.

A couple of months ago I decided to apply for a slot at an online news agency. Actually, anyone can basically write for them just like a blog site. The only difference is you have to fill out an application, submit a writing sample of what you would write about and agree to a criminal background check. Blogger does not do that. Maybe they should (LOL). But it was not like a job interview and I was granted permission to write for them. You basically get 1 cent per view. My hits have been great compared to all my other sites. In just two months I had over 1000 hits. It took me two years to achieve that on Earth Chatter. Anyways, over the last four days, massive debates have been going on in the google group site due to a recalculation of compensation. This resulted in journalists putting down other writers with no journalist background. These people think they are better. Are they? I think not. Despite what these journalists think, the only difference between bloggers and journalists in my opinion is venue. We bloggers write on free sites open to the public. Journalists traditionally go through newspapers and publishers. However, the outcome is the same. We all write! Sure journalists write just about the news while we have the flexibility to write about whatever. But I think we are all the same. What do you think?