Weblog Ethics

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This entry was published at least two years ago (originally posted on September 19, 2003). Since that time the information may have become outdated or my beliefs may have changed (in general, assume a more open and liberal current viewpoint). A fuller disclaimer is available.

Rebecca Blood has an excerpt from her book The Weblog Handbook posted dealing with weblog ethics that’s well worth looking at. I do my best to abide by these rules — to me, most of them are pure common sense — but it’s not a bad idea to occasionally refresh the concept in your mind.

  1. Publish as fact only that which you believe to be true.
  2. If material exists online, link to it when you reference it.
  3. Publicly correct any misinformation.
  4. Write each entry as if it could not be changed; add to, but do not rewrite or delete, any entry.
  5. Disclose any conflict of interest.
  6. Note questionable and biased sources.

3 thoughts on “Weblog Ethics”

  2. Well what can I say? Although I like the list and it would be nice if people followed it. I’ll be the first to admit I have no intention of setting these rules as my guidelines.

    I’m ok with #1

    And I try to do #2 but don’t or can’t at times. (I’m learning)

    I’m even ok with #3.

    But #4 I have major problems with. I’m not a journalist or a reporter and my blog isn’t “news” it’s opinion and I reserve the right to change anything, anytime I want or delete anything any time I want.

    5 is an odd duck for me, I think I would but I can’t think of how I would ever run into it. I am selling some of my pictures but it should be clear to everyone that I’ll make a little money off the sale. Oh wait I get it! I could tell everybody to run out and buy Xerox printers and not tell them I work for Xerox. Of course I won’t make any money from the sale and Xerox printers suck so I guess that’s out.

    I also have a bit of trouble with # 6. Quite frankly in my mind, ALL sources are questionable and or biased. But in the end, I do try to be “Fair and Balanced.”

    Isn’t that enough?

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