Ethos What?

Ethics in Blogging

What makes someone qualified to blog or do they even need to be?

In today's society, anyone who puts anything out there is an expert. We see "consultants" on T.V. and in print and blindly and automatically give them third party credibility. We assume they are an expert on the subject on which they are speaking about.

I, in no way, am an expert. I am a student who is studying for Public Relations and Women's studies and thus has a vested interest on how messages make it to the general public.

I wanted this to be my first post, but the elections came first. So, here is my personal code of ethics followed by The Bloggers Code of Ethics for which I will try to adhere. Also, I am attaching a link to a Daily Show clip on the subject of "experts" within the media. Enjoy and keep this in mind when receiving media messages.



Jennifer Laker's Ethics to Live By
1. Love yourself first: You can't love another fully until you love yourself. Love yourself first. Love yourself the most. Parenthood is the only exception. It's like when you're on an airplane and they tell yu to put the oxygen mask on yourself before you can help others.

2. Teach others how to treat you: It's human nature for people to get away with what they can. Some people will treat you however you let them. Be open and vocal with your physical and emotional boundaries so that others may be aware of them and respect them before they cross them. Fight if you must to make them known.

3. Relationships must be mutually beneficial: This includes friends, family, co-workers, and employers. If someone doesn't have intelligence, wisdom, healthy companionship, true love, humor, or support to offer, question yourself why they are in your life.

4. Understanding and respect are not symbiotic: It is condescending to seek understanding of someone or their situation in order to respect it. Rather, seek acceptance. Trying to understand another's life experiences, frame of reference, and innermost feelings is futile.

5. Seek acceptance of The Gray: Don't divide the world into those like yourself and "the others." It's not black and white, male and female, gay and straight, able-bodied and disabled. We live, and have lived, for some time in The Gray and it will only benefit us to learn about the abyss that lies beyond the black and white.

6. Don't pay for the B's in life: Be the best, stay the hungriest, stay passionate, and seek to know all that you can. If you don't, someone else willl. I always say, "I get A's because I don't pay for the B's." Remember, a B is fabulous if you tried your best.

7. Travel as much as possible: There's a big world outh there and life is short. Be an explorer. Indulge your senses. See, smell, feel, hear, touch, and taste (my personal favorite) as many parts of the earth as you can.

8. Treat EVERYONE as you would your Grandma: Some people are feeble on the inside. This covers the almighty "Treat others as they treat you." Disclaimer: if they treat you badly, refer to rule three.

9. Learn how to debate: Enjoy actively partaking in a heated game of discussion. Your goal is to inform others of how you feel while learning how they feel. Do not push your beliefs on others. Go into it with an open mind, you may just learn something.

10. Never say Never: As they say, two things are true, death and taxes. Accept that everything else can and probably will change. Don't close yourself off to all of life's possibilities. On the note, these rules are subject to change and probably will as I advance through life and all it has to offer.

A BLOGGERS' CODE OF ETHICS
Be Honest and Fair

Bloggers should be honest and fair in gathering, reporting and interpreting information. Bloggers should:
• Never plagiarize. • Identify and link to sources whenever feasible. The public is entitled to as much information as possible on sources' reliability. • Make certain that Weblog entries, quotations, headlines, photos and all other content do not misrepresent. They should not oversimplify or highlight incidents out of context. • Never distort the content of photos without disclosing what has been changed. Image enhancement is only acceptable for for technical clarity. Label montages and photo illustrations. • Never publish information they know is inaccurate -- and if publishing questionable information, make it clear it's in doubt. • Distinguish between advocacy, commentary and factual information. Even advocacy writing and commentary should not misrepresent fact or context. • Distinguish factual information and commentary from advertising and shun hybrids that blur the lines between the two.

Minimize Harm
Ethical bloggers treat sources and subjects as human beings deserving of respect. Bloggers should: • Show compassion for those who may be affected adversely by Weblog content. Use special sensitivity when dealing with children and inexperienced sources or subjects. • Be sensitive when seeking or using interviews or photographs of those affected by tragedy or grief. • Recognize that gathering and reporting information may cause harm or discomfort. Pursuit of information is not a license for arrogance. • Recognize that private people have a greater right to control information about themselves than do public officials and others who seek power, influence or attention. Only an overriding public need can justify intrusion into anyone's privacy. • Show good taste. Avoid pandering to lurid curiosity. Be cautious about identifying juvenile suspects, victims of sex crimes and criminal suspects before the formal filing of charges.
Be Accountable Bloggers should: • Admit mistakes and correct them promptly. • Explain each Weblog's mission and invite dialogue with the public over its content and the bloggers' conduct. • Disclose conflicts of interest, affiliations, activities and personal agendas. • Deny favored treatment to advertisers and special interests and resist their pressure to influence content. When exceptions are made, disclose them fully to readers. • Be wary of sources offering information for favors. When accepting such information, disclose the favors. • Expose unethical practices of other bloggers. • Abide by the same high standards to which they hold others.