Should bloggers be held to the same code of ethics as professional journalists?

by Dossie M Terrell

Created on: July 22, 2009   Last Updated: May 13, 2012

We live in a time where it is more important to be the "first journalist out" with a story than being overly concerned about the story's accuracy and sometimes fairness, even though professional journalists operate under a code of ethics and to that end are held accountable for their conduct. Most journalists today would probably not meet Walter Cronkite's form of ethical standards, but in fairness many are simply responding to America's obsession with the "need to know at any and all cost" mentality.

Even so, when bloggers attempt to compete with professional journalists, they need to operate under some legitimate code of ethics that includes a mechanism for disclosure, individual accountability and and parameters that show some regard on how stories will affect their subjects.

The professional journalist code of ethics maintains that journalists are held to certain codes of behavior that range from ensuring the accuracy of the information reported without personal embellishments, supporting others' views even when they find them distasteful, being able to recognize that the information they report may cause others harm, to abiding by the same high standards they should attribute to others. Bloggers should be held to the same ethical standards if they persist in wanting to be labeled journalists.

Cyberjournalist.com offers some guidelines for bloggers to adopt if they want to be considered serious journalists; however, they are under no obligation to adhere to them.

For example, although an extreme case, take the recent case of Carrie Prejean and the controversy that surrounded her response during the Miss California's pageant. Whether one agrees with her is not the issue, it is the license a blogger has to denigrate or disparage with impunity. No professional journalist is able to go on all the major news shows to further insult the subject of a story.

Because many bloggers' work will be read and most likely believed by many, as many folks do not conduct their own critical analyses of what they read or hear, they should be held to the same standards as professional journalists. There should be oversight concerning what they can report and parameters established on the extent they are able to obtain information.

True, there are bloggers who are ethical and principled and adhere to the rules of fair and judicious reporting. They write and report because they are disciples of the art itself, rather than for any fame or fortune they may derive. However, sooner or later there will be instances where bloggers will obtain information that will fall under the First Amendment that will require the Supreme court to settle the matter once and for all. Perhaps, this is what is needed in order to establish bloggers' place in the world of news reporting. Are they bona fide journalists? What are the rules and laws under which they operate?

As with any job, there is a certain amount of responsibility and accountability that is inherent in it; therefore, at a minimum, bloggers should be held to those same standards.

http://www.cyberjournalist.net/news/000215.php

Learn more about this author, Dossie M Terrell.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.