Now that I find myself blogging and reading more blogs than ever I have to wonder, what are the ethics of blogging?

The Ethics of blogging

1- Honesty: 
In certain countries journalists are licensed.   That is not the case in
America, although I feel that sometimes it should be. Fact check your
sources, print accurate text and check your spelling and
punctuation.    (please note: wikipedia is not fact)
Like your mother said,  honesty is the best policy.   
 
2:
Credits:  If you are reprinting information or images give credit where
it is due.    The internet is the public domain of the information
highway, but stealing is totally unacceptable.  Plagiarism is
cheating.   That little credit is always appreciated.     If you are
doing a feature, ask the source if possible.   Credit is a great thing
and its nice to get people's work out there so other's can follow up on
the trail.
 
3: Images: A picture is worth a thousand words, but
its nice to see some text.    Try and furnish content whenever
possible.   If you are publishing images, than follow up with a
sentence at the very least.   Anyone can choose cool pics and post
them.    What really makes a good blogger or tastemaker is producing
content.     Remember, you are creating a record for a long time,
possibly forever in cyberspace.    Post the date and location or film
or person and give a brief description. 
If you are promoting
events, give  a little backround on the promoter or crowd or music.   
There is so much out there, a little filter is always good.
 
4:
Time:  Try and post your information in a timely manner.    If you are
covering an event or party make sure you get it up there asap.     No
one cares once it has run in the tabloids.   Old news is boring.     If
you are talking about politics or News this is imperative. Op ed or
editorial comments can be published whenever.    (although chances are
you will get more hits when the information is timely)
 
5: Fact v. Fiction: Distinquish whether your information is factual, commentary
or advertising promotion.   Don't blur the lines.
 
6: Blogger as
subject-personality: Don't talk about yourself.  Major pet peave here,
I'm sorry but no one is that interesting.    Maybe Norman Mailer can
get away with it.   You just come across as a blowhard.     Your
sensibility is far more interesting.   Talk about what you like, what
you did, and what you think.    It does not need to be written in
relation to you.  That's obvious.   Your blog is a reflection of
yourself.   Art imitates life.   IF you are an asshole, the blog will
reveal it.

7: Standards: Hold yourself to a higher standard of
good taste.  Keep language clean and upscale.  Avoid gossip and
pandering.    Save that for the celebrity blogs. 
 
Hold yourself accountable if you make mistakes and correct them right
away.     Never print something questionable, false or
unsubstantiated.   If you move forward,  state that you are in doubt. 
If you hated the show, tell me why.   Be ethical.
 
 
8:  The
Critic: Don't be mean or vindictive.    Realize that critism can hurt
someone, if you are writing a critique- fine.   But realize that you
must be objective and present your reasons. Tell me why you hated it. 

Always back up your opinion.
 
 
9: Knowledge is the beginning: Talk about what
you know or want to know.    The best artists, writers, and musicians
write about what they know.     If you are eloquent, nothing is
banal.  
 
10: Titles: Cryptic titles don't work.   They just
limit your hits and the links that will connect to your posts.    Look
at magazine and newspaper headlines.   They are always pretty
direct.    The average reader spends 4-5 minutes on a website.   You
better get their attention.     If you write about something or someone
known you should have that name in the title to your post.
 
11:
Promotion: Feel free to promote your friends and occasionally your
business.   If you have a line, book, project coming out-great.   It is
ok to talk about it.   But don't make it about yourself all the
time.          Promote your friends, but as artisans or creatives, not
just because you know them.   Nothing is more self absorbed than saying
I did this and that and I own this and that and I know that rockstar.  
If the blog is too self involved it gets pretentious.    Keep things
more accessible.   
 
 
12: Information:   List information,
links, videos etc.     A great tool when you talk about something is to
link to a website or video.    Blogs are about disseminating
information and this makes it easy for your readers to follow up on the
post.   Your mission should be to create awareness for something and
let your readers follow up.
 
It also creates a link back and forth and increases your exposure.
 
Don't print incidents or content out of context.
 
13: Sensitivity:   Never use tragedy or personal loss to exploit a story.  
If you are writing about Katrina or the Beijing Earthquake be sensitive
to victims of tragedy.   
 
14: Privacy:   Realize that
celebrities are public figures and your friends may not be.    If you
are publishing images or stories about private citizens be careful to
respect their privacy.
 
15: Motivation: Have fun, most bloggers
write for free so make it a pleasurable experience for you and your
readers.

( Adorable blogger in this picture is my friend Marina, and, no I never look
this great while blogging, nor do I blog on my lawn.)

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