Networked media- Ethics in blogging
In todays class we discussed how important it is to be ethical in todays online environment especially when it comes to our own blogs. We listed a bunch of ideas which I will list and expand upon below.
- When posting content on the web one should avoid braking the law, meaning that you shouldn’t go around posting about how to make bombs or boasting about crimes you have committed
- You shouldn’t go out of your way to bully/ attack individuals online
- Provide context to your posts, if you are posting something online always take time at the top of your post to explain your why you are posting something, if the post you are making is sponsored or if what your posting is purely option or speculation
- Be original with the content you are posting, copyright laws online in Australia are pretty specific when it comes to what you are aloud to post online, so make sure your not plagiarising other peoples work. Instead write new perspectives on other posts and link to the original so people can go to it and compare your analysis to the original content.
- Be sure to differentiate fact from fiction, make sure that your readers know that what you are posting is either speculation or a researched opinion on the matter. if speculation specify at in the beginning of your post and if what your posting is based on fact be sure to link your sources so people can check your work against the cited material.
- You want to foster online discussion within your blog, don’t disable or delete comments because your you don’t want to see them or your afraid that their will be a back lash to your opinion, either stand by what your saying or don’t post at all.
- And probably most importantly to have a unique voice, this harkens back a little to the point before about being original. blogs are a sudo-personal style of writing where people are encouraged to speak their minds and share their views on the world, so make sure you have a distinct style to your writing and don’t try to write overly formal.
For a better and more comprehensive list on how to be ethical in blogging have a look at Ethics in blogging- a 10 point guide by Lawrie Zion.