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

by Cinda Smaagaard

Created on: July 23, 2009   Last Updated: July 24, 2009

Ethics which apply to professional journalists are vastly different than those imposed upon bloggers. A blog is usually one's personal reflection and opinion. A newspaper or magazine would most likely edit, cut and place such writings in an unprofessional section such as "letters" or "personals". Freedom of speech is a wonderful right and privilege by which many bloggers flourish or flounder. Joe Six-Pack cannot be expected to understand nor adhere to the complexities of editorial integrity which regulate professional writers who work for the media. Blogging was meant to be a way of freely expressing one's feelings unedited and uncensored like a diary or journal; however, any federal, state or city applicable laws should apply because bloggers are posting their thoughts for others to read.

Professional journalists have to adhere to specific code books on how to present their writings, for example, using politically correct terminology or consistent governmental acronyms. Bloggers are not required to follow those rules or guidebooks.

Professional journalists have a team of lawyers or administrators who oversee their work in order to protect against slander, libel, copyright infringement or anything which would imply inappropriateness. Bloggers would be unfamiliar with the regulations which guide ethical professional writing. Ignorance is not an excuse if they are bullying or causing harm to others, but the bar would definitely be set much lower for quality and content and most readers would likely expect much less from them. Unfortunately, courtesy and morality cannot be legislated. Even when a pro posts on a controversial topic, the comments that tag along for the ride can often be incredibly insensitive.

Professional journalists are being paid by others for their work. This would imply some kind of oversight of the work or consensus or agreement as to how the work is presented by the host. Bloggers are writing simply for the joy of expression and will most likely endure the wrath of their own subscribers and critics on their own dime. Feedback can be ruthless for those without reputation or who do not care about whatever reputation they are reaping.

Both professional journalists and bloggers have names to protect. Everything which gets posted online has the ability to pop up in the most unexpected places depending upon the "tags" or "leads" they use to describe or advertise their writings. For this reason, I would caution both kinds of writers to think twice when creating headlines or even posting comments since your reply will be piggybacked to the original material or source for a long time to come. Rereading and editing one's material periodically even blogs are a good idea.

Make sure your profile, pictures, tone, attitude and genre are what you want the world to see. The world might be more forgiving of a journal entry about mundane and boring topics than they would a professional journalist's obligation to the truth and accuracy of a news report, but remember, the court of public opinion especially on the internet has its own way of being self-governing so that bad, rude or downright offensive and mean material usually ends up being unread and ignored.

Obscurity and lack of an audience of readers are the bloggers' and professional journalists' worse nightmares. Anonymous writers are neither brave nor brilliant. If what one has to say is significant enough to publish, it deserves authorship and readership.

Learn more about this author, Cinda Smaagaard.
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