Blog ethics movement afoot
A movement is under way to introduce ethical guidelines to blogging. Gawker Media publisher Nick Denton says it's time "someone stands up, calls people out, and keeps the blogosphere honest" and suggests his rival blog publisher Jason Calacanis and Jeff Jarvis lead the effort. Calacanis followed up by registering BlogEthics.org and asking Denton to join in.
CyberJournalist.net published a proposed Bloggers' Code of Ethics in April 2003, which might be a good starting ground for any discussion. Read the code here and add your comments below.
Dec 01, 2004 | E-MAIL | SAVE | PRINT | PERMALINK | DISCUSS(2)
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2 comments about 'Blog ethics movement afoot'Portland Communique's about page offers two sets to principles, at least for weblogs trying to do journalism.
http://communique.portland.or.us/about.html
One is Rebecca Blood's list of weblog ethics, and the other is the list of nine principles of journalism from Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel.
Posted by The One True b!X at December 2, 2004 1:46 PM
Actually, I don't think we need such a top-down organization. I say we need to collect the collective wisdom.
http://www.buzzmachine.com/archives/2004_11_22.html#008534
The text of that post:
Blog ethics
: My sneaky friend Nick Denton nominated me to join Jason Calicanis in setting up a Blog Ethics Committee. I had to let this sink in. Here's my response:
We don't need a committee. We don't need an authority figure or moral guidepost.
This is a distributed world, a world owned by the whole. We are ruled by the wisdom of the crowd.
The most I might go for would be a blog ethics wiki, in which all bloggers get the chance to contribute their collective wisdom and conscience to a debate over what's right.
Besides, the rules of ethics in publishing are really quite simple. As they relate to advertising, I'd start here:
1. No one can buy your editorial voice or space.
2. Anything that is bought should be clearly identified so the audience would not be confused about its source.
3. Be transparent about any relationships you have that could affect what you say and about anything you receive related to what you say.
4. Be open. Be honest.
That pretty much covers the waterfront. If you get more specific than that, your knickers get knotted over every new kind of ad or freebie. It's really quite simple; it's common sense. Your credibility is your only asset; if you sell or or screw it up, you don't get it back.
On other fronts:
We can debate until the elephants and donkeys come home about disclosing your own political prespective and bias. That's up to you. '
You need to follow the law -- whether you like the law or not -- regarding copyright and trademark and if you don't, that's your risk.
You can set your own rules about answering and quoting email and tolerating commenters, anonymous or otherwise.
There, I just saved myself a committee meeting.
Posted by Jeff Jarvis at December 3, 2004 7:49 AM
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3 Weblogs reference 'Blog ethics movement afoot' Blog EthicsTrackback excerpt: A movement to introduce ethical guidelines to blogging is currently underway, according to this Cyberjournlalist article. Gawker publisher Nick Denton says it's important that Someone stands up, calls people out, and keeps the blogosphere honest. And m... [Read More]
Posted on Blog on Blog at December 2, 2004 12:30 PM
Trackback excerpt: According to Cyberjournalist, a movement advocating the introduction of ethical guidelines for the blogosphere is under way. Gawker publisher Nick Denton said: "it's time someone stands up, calls people out, and keeps the blogosphere honest." Jason Cal... [Read More]
Posted on unmediated at December 4, 2004 1:17 PM
Trackback excerpt:
Holy sh!t, when will the madness end eh?
Jason Calacanis has taken it upon himself to police the blogs. Wore, [Read More]
Posted on Threadwatch.org at December 4, 2004 3:13 PM
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