Charles, That's a big chunk. If you are looking to pass on the bare basics, I highly recommend the short pamphlet from Reporters Without Borders: http://www.rsf.org/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=542 Beyond this, a number of folks have tried to make explicit an ethics of blogging, particularly related to maintaining the privacy of others. Some have borrowed from the SPJ's code: http://www.cyberjournalist.net/news/000215.php Though similar codes could be taken, e.g., from the CPSR's code. There have been a number of examples of ethical (and legal) concerns revolving around blogging practices. A small sampling might include: 1. Spam blogs (aka "splogs") and businesses setting up blogs that are supposedly by disinterested individuals. 2. Issues of privacy borders: e.g., the "nanny diaries" issue that appeared in the NYT and on a nanny's blog: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/17/fashion/sundaystyles/17LOVE.html?ex=127925... 3. Questions (again recapped from journalism) about whether bloggers should be paid, and whether they should disclose payments. Some of this arose around bloggers for the Dean campaign, and it has shown up elsewhere. A number of bloggers post their own policies. 4. Issues regarding editorial policies. E.g., the recent furor over Bitch, Ph.D. banning a discussant. See: http://www.erinoconnor.org/archives/2005/11/of_blogs_commen.html This is just for starters :). Alex On 11/29/05, Charles Ess <cmess@drury.edu> wrote:
Hi all,
I'm about to interviewed for a newspaper story (Pittsburgh) on blogging and blogs - of the many things I know so little about, those would be right up there... (the vagaries of reporting, I suppose...)
While I have a few meager thoughts on the phenomena, including a shred of ethical reflection - would the air community like to throw any important thoughts (and references) my way? I'll happily credit anyone I can cite - and/or refer the reporter to the _real_ experts out there in AoIR-land.
Let me know - and thanks, -- cX (the unknown charlie, who followed the original Charlie onto the executive committee - tee-hee)
Charles Ess
Distinguished Research Professor, Interdisciplinary Studies <http://www.drury.edu/gp21> Drury University 900 N. Benton Ave. Voice: 417-873-7230 Springfield, MO 65802 USA FAX: 417-873-7435 Home page: http://www.drury.edu/ess/ess.html
Co-chair, CATaC'06: http://www.catacconference.org Co-chair, ECAP'06: http://www.eu-cap.org
Professor II, Globalization and Applied Ethics Programmes Norwegian University of Science and Technology NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway http://www.anvendtetikk.ntnu.no/pres/bridgingcultures.php
Exemplary persons seek harmony, not sameness. -- Analects 13.23
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