A BLOGGERS' CODE OF ETHICS
Be Honest and FairBloggers should be honest and fair in gathering, reporting and interpreting information.
Bloggers should:
• Never plagiarize.
• Identify and link to sources whenever feasible. The public is entitled to as much information as possible on sources' reliability.
• Make certain that Weblog entries, quotations, headlines, photos and all other content do not misrepresent. They should not oversimplify or highlight incidents out of context.
• Never distort the content of photos without disclosing what has been changed. Image enhancement is only acceptable for for technical clarity. Label montages and photo illustrations.
• Never publish information they know is inaccurate -- and if publishing questionable information, make it clear it's in doubt.
• Distinguish between advocacy, commentary and factual information. Even advocacy writing and commentary should not misrepresent fact or context.
• Distinguish factual information and commentary from advertising and shun hybrids that blur the lines between the two.
Minimize Harm Ethical bloggers treat sources and subjects as human beings deserving of respect.
Bloggers should:
• Show compassion for those who may be affected adversely by Weblog content. Use special sensitivity when dealing with children and inexperienced sources or subjects.
• Be sensitive when seeking or using interviews or photographs of those affected by tragedy or grief.
• Recognize that gathering and reporting information may cause harm or discomfort. Pursuit of information is not a license for arrogance.
• Recognize that private people have a greater right to control information about themselves than do public officials and others who seek power, influence or attention. Only an overriding public need can justify intrusion into anyone's privacy.
• Show good taste. Avoid pandering to lurid curiosity. Be cautious about identifying juvenile suspects, victims of sex crimes and criminal suspects before the formal filing of charges.
Be Accountable
Bloggers should:
• Admit mistakes and correct them promptly.
• Explain each Weblog's mission and invite dialogue with the public over its content and the bloggers' conduct.
• Disclose conflicts of interest, affiliations, activities and personal agendas.
• Deny favored treatment to advertisers and special interests and resist their pressure to influence content. When exceptions are made, disclose them fully to readers.
• Be wary of sources offering information for favors. When accepting such information, disclose the favors.
• Expose unethical practices of other bloggers.
• Abide by the same high standards to which they hold others.
References :
1. Cyberjournalist
2. Blogethics
Please spread around this information in your blogs...Thanks !!
20 comments:
this is as good as a sachin tendulkar straight drive :)
என்ன அடேங்கப்பா.. அவ்வளவு மன உளைச்சலுக்கு ஆளாகிட்டீங்களா ??
very good ones...as pk said straight drive...
Aaaha. Imbuttu matter keedha?
vittu tholaingalen andha topic-a. Enakku sirippu dhaan varudhu..
that was informative..me contemplating..if i follow those.....
:(
Doesn't this defeat the purpose of a blog? A person might treat his/her blog in anyway he/she chooses. I do agree with the plagiarism issue though. "Expose unethical practises" - hmm.. blog policing? that's never gonna happen. BTW, I'm not sure of why there should be all these.. except for plagiarism from which a blogger is sufficiently protected by the creative commons license. If someone can plagiarise, they will. they don't care for copyright infringement or the author.
"Recognize that private people have a greater right to control information about themselves than do public officials and others who seek power, influence or attention. Only an overriding public need can justify intrusion into anyone's privacy" - Totally agree.
I have only one point that I'm not willing to accept. specifically - "Interpreting information".. if a reader so wishes to convince himself that he is being targeted in a blog when the author is talking about someone else, it is his own interpretation that has prevented him from understanding the author's point.
"Never publish information they know is inaccurate -- and if publishing questionable information, make it clear it's in doubt." - this would hold good for journalism, not for blogging for obvious reasons. .
There, a civilized comment from me!
Soooooo much guidelines????
ammmmma devame!!!! :)
good ones , I will try to follow it :)
Reading all these rules, now guess i'll think a lot, b4 i publish my next post :)))
Hey thts quite a bit of info from your side.... good work!
My opinion - When you write something imagine yourself in your parent,bro,sis,son,daughter's etc. boots and then post it if you feel that is is ok for them to read it.
But I am glad you laid out some good ground rules here. Win-Win for all.!!
@Everyone..thanks for reading the above post and thanks for your time..
keep blogging "constructively"
@SRIRAM..
Thanks for visiting my blog....
1.I agree that blogs are free space available to rant your views..
2.About"interpreting information"..if the reader has a different view than the authors,it means the reader is not intellectually deficient,but the post by itself lacks lucidity and doesnt convey info as what it meant to ...if the authors/readers has same view point,then there arises no bone of contention
3.if you want to rave about a particular behaviour of someone,i guess its better to concoct a xyz character to bash, than to generalize the whole situation,which gives a whole different perspective to the issue discussed...
4.I guess, a decorum should be maintained ,for it attracts readers to your posts for healthy criticism/suggestions
5.Im glad if i got about a change of attitude in you,and hope you remain so,atleast in public portals.
6.Btw,thanks for leaving a "civilized comment"..void of expletives..
No hard feeling pal....hope i conveyed myself clear..Cheers !!
Good set of rules, we have to keep blogging as free-form as possible but within acceptable and readable limits.
Prabhu,
My point exactly! if there is/was one person I'm bashing, I would ALWAYS put his name and not give random hints :)..
"About"interpreting information"..if the reader has a different view than the authors,it means the reader is not intellectually deficient,but the post by itself lacks lucidity and doesnt convey info as what it meant to ...if the authors/readers has same view point,then there arises no bone of contention" -- I still disagree! case in point : your interpretation of one of my posts.
"Im glad if i got about a change of attitude in you,and hope you remain so,atleast in public portals." -- Err.. it is for a totally different reason and a different person :) alteast, let me say it wasn't cause of you.. no hard feelings, but credit has to be given at the right place only :).. cheers!
It is a guide for bloggers. keep posting public information.
@Sriram..
Did i ever mention anywhere that you made a racist comment??
Again,its your assumption out of context..
You say,u hate desi dudes that act like blacks..
i ask,why should not a desi dude act like blacks?
and whats is your problem even if thats a case??
Your post contradicts at many places..
WHATEVER..
for heavens sake,i wud like to put a full stop to this trivial issue,and as i'd mentioned earlier, i got better jobs to do..
Good luck to you in your academics !! Peace !!
Prabhu,
Ok.. me more than willing to drop it. thanks for the wishes. do stop by and feel free to comment :) cheers!
Prabhu, Good effort. Do check out Charlene Li's blog. She has put together a Bloggers Code of ethics.
Prabhu, Good effort. Do check out Charlene Li's blog. She has put together a Bloggers Code of ethics.
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