In a long ago college class I was taught that one of the things that distinguishes a profession is a code of conduct. Blogging meets that criteria.

Blogging has been recognized as journalism for constitutional protection by many courts in the United States. It is journalism and more, and its code of conduct is an active process not just a list on paper.

Bloggers are expected to cite their sources. That means a factual statement should be supported by one or more links to reputable sources of information. A discussion around the issue of WMDs in Iraq might link to the United Nations reports on the topic.

Bloggers are also expected to provide a link when they quote a source. Plagiarism is easily discovered by the community of bloggers and readers, and there is no surer way to lose all your readers than to be caught.

Quotes should also be "fair use". Bloggers do not replicate other writers' content in total. Excerpts are the norm. Images should also be credited to the photographer when possible. The community can be quite reactive and unforgiving when it appears that a blogger may have stolen content or images.

There are blogs on all types of subjects, from mommy blogs to sex blogs to political and military blogs.In some blog areas, the need for accuracy is important. A military blog cannot post a picture of a MIG-21 and call it an SU-24. In opinion blogs, logical fallacies such as a "strawman argument" are demolished either on site or in other blogs by other bloggers. Bloggers are expected to police each other and the interplay between blogs is often both entertaining and educational.

When blogs allow comments, the norm is for commenters to stick to the topic. Many blogs ruthlessly patrol their comments and keep discussion moving by preventing off topic comments, Just as a newspaper prints letters to the editor that are short and to the point, so do blogs that allow commenting.

The blogger's expected code of conduct also includes charity. It is a regular feature of most successful blogs and it is part of the blogging community. From links to charities, to operating a donation page, to organizing massive fund-raising, bloggers use their ability to reach millions to touch those same readers and encourage them to help people in need.

The blogging code of conduct may not be written down. It is known to the community and the nature of blogging ensures that to be successful, a blogger must follow the code. Blogging is self-policing and self-correcting, and its code has ensured that the profession will succeed.

Learn more about this author, Charles Simmins.
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