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

by John Henderson

Created on: August 10, 2009   Last Updated: August 11, 2009

For some reason, more and more online readers are turning to blogs as their main source of information. It is no longer newspapers or sources of credibility. However, to think that you should hold any random blogger to professional code of ethics is just plain nuts. Most blogs do not even last more than 6 months to a year before the blogger loses interest and moves on.

Personally, I hate arbitrary lists. However, I feel that I clearly outlined list is needed and to minimize my internal conflict, I will try to be fair with my reasoning do my best to articulate the reasoning behind each reason.

1. Bloggers Are Freelancers At Best: Most of Them Never Make a Dime

Professional journalists are bound by a code of ethics for a multitude of reasons, however, they all stem from one basic concept. A professional journalist is just that: a professional. They make money. They are automatically handed a free crown of authority. As an authority figure, it is irresponsible to operate with some sort of code of conduct to reign in their power or persuasion.

Bloggers on the other hand are, in many cases, just ranting or passing on stories to pass on stories. It could be kid in high school that just wants to be heard or a marketing professional trying to sell a product. Regardless or who they are, they are just people. For a blogger to gain authority, they must prove themselves over a long period of time as a trusted information resource. A large majority of popular or quality bloggers follow a similar personal code of ethics when compared to professional journalists, because that is the only way for them to remain popular in the long run.

2. Resources

A professional journalist has a large amount of resources that are available to them that bloggers will never have. One of these resources is time. A professional journalist has the ability to spend an entire day or days on a story, including researching, writing, rewriting, calling contacts, and more. A blogger has a professional obligation outside of the blog. They simply do not have the time to keep up with professional journalists.

A professional journalist creates a list of contacts and sources as their career progresses, these resources help gather information and even dig up stories. A blogger doesn't have a long list of contacts that they can utilize at the drop of a hat. If they need to know what is going on inside a contract negotiation of a professional athelete or insider information about the President's reaction to something said in the Senate.

In short, bloggers simply do not have the resources to compete with professional journalists. If they were to be held to the same ethical standards and practices, they would cease to be.

3. Who Cares?

A professional journalist for a newspaper, for example, can be read every day whether their articles are all that interesting or not. A professional journalist can rely on their employer for exposure and a fan base. A bloggers popularity is solely based on the people who read and promote their blog. Bloggers have no safety net to rely on. Since a blog is inherently self-serving, a blogger will do anything to gather a flock of followers.

In short, there is no way that a blogger should be held to the same level of professional ethics that a journalist must adhere to. The more important question really should be, why have professional news sources lowered themselves to blogging. This action has blurred the line of "authoritative information" and caused this problem in the first place.

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