A bachelor’s degree in journalism, media studies, mass communication, or some similarly named program along with at least a few years under the tutelage of editors is the best preparation for calling oneself a journalist.
So much for all those journalists who got to where they are via cadetships/traineeships - you're nothing according to Jolie O'Dell.
Honestly, this point strikes me as someone trying to justify their own actions as the "correct" actions.