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The line between what constitutes blogging and journalism is blurred and so too is the line that decides the degree to which normal journalistic ethics apply to bloggers(Colin, 2004).
Wonkette and Drudge (in Colin, 2004) argue that there is a limit to what should be published by bloggers and the that the lead can be taken from the written press. For example, if a newspaper does not print the name of someone then bloggers can safely do the same. Colin argues that there are practical considerations of legal liability that leave bloggers vulnerable. Newspapers have the advantage of capital and lawyers to defend themselves from libel law suits.
Past cases show that bloggers have never been sued successfully sued for what they have printed. This is illustrated by the case study of Blumenthal vs Drudge. Drudge accused Blumenthal of being a wife-beater and online opinion found this unethical if not illegal. Drudge’s blog had many influential readers and the rumor, no matter how outlandish, was potentially damaging (Colin, 2004). However, Blumenthal lost the case with the judge ruling that Drudge was not a journalist, reporter or news gatherer (MacDonald, 2001). Legal experts, while pleased that the outcome upheld the first amendment of free speech, remarked that this was not a good example of ethical online journalism. As evidenced by this case, the ethical implications for bloggers rely on whether or not blogging is considered a form of journalism.
When reading a newspaper one can safely assume that Newspapers have checked their facts. When accusations are made it can therefore be assumed that all attempts have been made to verify them. The same is not true for blogs. Colin (2004) argues that blogs do not attempt to offer objectivity. He argues that should they attempt this, boring blogs would result. However he also states that if bloggers aspire to the status of media outlets, then the responsibilities and obligations associated need to be adhered to.
If blogging is to be a form of journalism or play a role in the dissemination of information, then the Journalistic code of Ethics is a good place to start in considering a Bloggers code of Ethics (Hiler, 2002).
The Journalistic code of Ethics is centered around the concept of trust. Many argue that there is a growing amount of distrust for the mainstream media in today’s society (Lasica, 2002).This is evidenced by the strong following of online reporting on the recent Iraqi war. Many people turned to the blogs of independent journalists and individuals in Iraqi for up to date unbiased reporting. The case of Salam Pax is a famous example of an Iraqi man who provided the most immediate and honest account of life during the war. Hiler (2002), states that while there is still great trust in traditional forms of media, online journalism and blogs are gaining trust within the public sphere. He states that weblogs are inherently unbiased and unedited and are therefore trustworthy. Since the underlying principle in the Journalistic Code of Ethics is trust, then bloggers need a code of ethics with the same fundamental principles.
Ethics is essential for both the online publication and the online journalist. Hiler suggests that the way of the future could be that people don’t read publications, they will read journalists.
The need for a Bloggers Code of Ethics has been acknowledged and recognized and John Hiler has the begun the process. Outlined below is a drafted Code of Ethics.
1. Amateur Journalists are inherently biased. What's crucial is not pure objectivity, but full disclosure. It is the responsibility of Amateur Journalists to fully disclose their agenda and background somewhere on their site. If a particular aspect of their background is especially relevant to a particular subject, that bias should be highlighted in any article on that subject.
2. Caveats are critical online. Accuracy is still important, but sometimes it's OK to print information that you haven't confirmed with multiple sources. Just make sure that you label it as such. Never ever publish information that you know not to be true. And if there's any doubt as to the accuracy of the information, caveat it clearly so that it's clear.
3. Blogging doesn't magically make you immune from Libel and Slander. If your article isn't clearly marked as opinion, you should give the subject of your piece a chance to respond in print. This means dropping them an email or picking up the picking up the phone.(Hiler, 2002.)
In conclusion, trust and therefore ethics are fundamental to both the blogger and the journalist. As blogging becomes an ever important and ever powerful news source and communication medium, the need for ethics grows stronger. The Bloggers Code of Ethics is on its way to becoming a “refined, living, breathing document� (Hiler, 2002) but in the meantime for both journalists and bloggers:
Follow this link for more information on ethics in journalism and other ethical situations.
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Camilla Northcote 19:24, 27 Oct 2004 (EST)
