2008 Woodie Awards
Are you an ethical blogger?
Martha Stevenson
Issue date: 11/29/07 Section: Life!
How would you answer these questions?
Do you try to be truthful when you blog?
Do you think you are accountable for what you post?
Do you reveal your "true" identity when you post as much as possible?
Do you reveal your personal affiliations and conflicts of interest?
Do you try to minimize harm to others when posting information (don't use vulgar language, don't call anyone names, aren't racially derogatory, etc.)?
Do you build relationships when blogging?
Do you allow others to post to your blog? Or do you post to other blogs?
Do you edit entries when posted to your blog to cover up mistakes or are you willing to post corrections when needed?
Do you cite your sources?
Do you include links to original sources?
In a survey done by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, 54% of the people who blog are between the ages of 18-29 and that the main reason to blog is to express oneself creatively.
This group does not spend a lot of time blogging, a mere 2 hours a week. There are a lot of bloggers out there in the blogosphere. They see keeping and reading blogs as a personal pursuit in which to share experiences with others online, never having to see them face-to-face. Are you part of this group?
Since you do not have to interact face-to-face with people to share ideas or voice your opinions, do you think that changes the way you act when blogging?
Has blogging made you forget everything your parents and society have taught you about interacting with others? Should there be a "code of ethics" for bloggers? Or do you see blogs as a place for free expression where anything goes? Would you rather read fiction or fact?
Right now the majority of blogs out there do not have a code of ethics at least on the blog itself. Bloggers tend to follow their own defined self code which is internal and not posted.
Bloggers seem resistant to rules and codes others have established for them. From the same survey it does state that bloggers either knowingly or unknowingly think of themselves as journalists and follow journalistic standards. 35% of bloggers say they try to verify facts and include links to original source materials.
Bloggers value accuracy, credibility and etiquette. Many bloggers also think they will keep each other in check. This has been called the "self-correcting phenomenon" (Perlmutter, 2007).
Who wants to continue to read a blog that is constantly full of false information, prejudices, and vulgar language?
So as a blogger, what values do you hold dear? Truth? Accountability? Transparency (lack of anonymity)? Honesty? Credibility?
Or are you of the mindset that if someone wants to blog than they participate at their own risk?
Do you try to be truthful when you blog?
Do you think you are accountable for what you post?
Do you reveal your "true" identity when you post as much as possible?
Do you reveal your personal affiliations and conflicts of interest?
Do you try to minimize harm to others when posting information (don't use vulgar language, don't call anyone names, aren't racially derogatory, etc.)?
Do you build relationships when blogging?
Do you allow others to post to your blog? Or do you post to other blogs?
Do you edit entries when posted to your blog to cover up mistakes or are you willing to post corrections when needed?
Do you cite your sources?
Do you include links to original sources?
In a survey done by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, 54% of the people who blog are between the ages of 18-29 and that the main reason to blog is to express oneself creatively.
This group does not spend a lot of time blogging, a mere 2 hours a week. There are a lot of bloggers out there in the blogosphere. They see keeping and reading blogs as a personal pursuit in which to share experiences with others online, never having to see them face-to-face. Are you part of this group?
Since you do not have to interact face-to-face with people to share ideas or voice your opinions, do you think that changes the way you act when blogging?
Has blogging made you forget everything your parents and society have taught you about interacting with others? Should there be a "code of ethics" for bloggers? Or do you see blogs as a place for free expression where anything goes? Would you rather read fiction or fact?
Right now the majority of blogs out there do not have a code of ethics at least on the blog itself. Bloggers tend to follow their own defined self code which is internal and not posted.
Bloggers seem resistant to rules and codes others have established for them. From the same survey it does state that bloggers either knowingly or unknowingly think of themselves as journalists and follow journalistic standards. 35% of bloggers say they try to verify facts and include links to original source materials.
Bloggers value accuracy, credibility and etiquette. Many bloggers also think they will keep each other in check. This has been called the "self-correcting phenomenon" (Perlmutter, 2007).
Who wants to continue to read a blog that is constantly full of false information, prejudices, and vulgar language?
So as a blogger, what values do you hold dear? Truth? Accountability? Transparency (lack of anonymity)? Honesty? Credibility?
Or are you of the mindset that if someone wants to blog than they participate at their own risk?