Like Reporters, Bloggers (especially Social Media bloggers) need to adhere to a high Code of Ethics. Here is a sample list of Professional Journalists for News Networks, Code of Ethics: http://www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp
Cyberjournalist.net wrote a great suggestion for ethics http://www.cyberjournalist.net/news/000215.php
Let me touch on a few points I want to make that we should definitely do:
1. Accuracy and Verification. Journalist fact check and verify (or at least try) a story. They try to get both sides. If you are going to do a post about someone negatively, at least call them up and ask their opinion. Recognize if they are a public figure the press has rights, where private people have more power to sue for slander. I’ve seen many bloggers and tweeters unaware of whats protected in free speech between public and private people. Like a reporter you ethically should be able to STAND behind it and man up. IF YOU CANT CONTACT THE PERSON MAYBE YOU SHOULDNT DO THE STORY UNTIL YOU GET YOUR _FACTS_ STRAIGHT. A good rule of thumb is if you can’t discuss it face to face with the person, maybe you shouldnt go the route of the weak.
If someone wants to write a bad opinion about me be at least be right with your facts. At least call me like a reporter would and try to get my side. I’d just like it to be accurate. In the end if you’re not being accurate your being dishonest, lying to your reader base and like News organizations will be discredited. Do you want that reputation? Its time for ethics.
2. Conflict of interest disclosure. Some people who feel they compete in industries, crap on people to step up on them. My business experience has always taught me to build strategic bridges of alliance with competitors and that there is always enough business for everyone. Most smart CEO’s and leaders think that way. If someone wants to blog something they should disclose their conflicts of interest. If you are crapping on people on misinformed unverified posts because you compete with them – you should disclose that in a major way. In sales and business you learn that by bashing your competition it reflects badly on you. It’s extremely unprofessional and people see that someone is just a jealous person and get a good laugh.
3. Distinguish between advocacy, commentary and factual information. Even advocacy writing and commentary should not misrepresent fact or context. I have many people embellish or project their opinions on to what I say, many times distorting the truth. This can happen but don’t SUGGESTS ITS FACT. Identify commentary, assumptions or fact. This is another reason it would be great to have bloggers fact check their stories with a phone call. I’ve had people take a single word I’ve said and completely off course delineate my meaning extraordinarily. Dont project. When you “assume” you make an “ass-u-me” (an ass out of you and me). Dont project or assume as PRESENT it as fact. Disclose: “The way I interpret that to mean” or “in my opinion.” Of course if you call and verify the story with the person you probably wont have to assume anything, now will you?
4. Admit mistakes and correct them promptly. I’ve contacted people who have grossly fictionalized some things about what I do. I usually ask them to correct the fictional stuff and I’m disturbed about how they wont correct the story. Some wont talk to me. In doing so they show a total lack of integrity to their story. The higher road is that they should at least correct wrong information. There needs to be a push towards accuracy.
5. Motives. Ask yourself what your motives are for your post. Are you selfishly misaligned trying to raise yourself up by stepping on someone? Or are you leading people as a true leader into the vision of the future as one people? Maybe you should write something about ideas and concepts that are uplifting, brilliant and visionary.
6. Mission Statement. Great business’ have mission statements describing their intent towards integrity. Make one for you and your readers that you’ll strive to be honest and integrable. Adhere to it.
While we’re not going to change internet trolls, we can call on those of us with high integrity to strive to higher ethics in regards to the community to sell that vision. If you believe that your job as a blogger is to report, its your job to do it well to a higher standard. Lift the world up to a vision, dont drag it blindly down.
Hi Chris,
Good article. Absolutely people should get their facts straight before opening their mouths. Too many have that in reverse these days.
There is only one point I would debate with you and that’s your first one regarding neutrality and journalists presenting both sides. Giving the benefit of the doubt, I believe that for the most part, yes that’s true… except in the arena of politics. There may be the *appearance* of giving both sides of the story, but (in my opinion, of course — hee hee!) there are some who clearly lean to the favor of one over the other, either left or right of center.
Here in Canada there’s some who see an obvious tipping to the left and would argue that this is why political blogs are becoming the place where people get their news so they CAN get “the other side of the story”, as Paul Harvey would say. 🙂 We are in the throes of a federal election here (4th in 7 years, I feel safe in saying on behalf of Canadians “…Really?”) — so I’m basically avoiding all news media for the next month. It’s grating. Irritating. Debilitating. Excruciating.
Have you had the same experience, or had this debate with others in the blog/media business?
I think you are exactly right Patricia and I realize people will probably
still “slant” the story but at least they give the other person a voice.
Many bloggers doing personal hate pieces dont, yet they relish they are
delivering “truth.”
Chris
I dunno… if all anyone has to blog about is negative content about others, perhaps it would be well to either consider a different theme, or perhaps forego it all together (and get some anger management input).