[Air-l] Blogging basics?

[Alex Halavais]

Charles,

That's a big chunk. If you are looking to pass on the bare basics, I
highly recommend the short pamphlet from Reporters Without Borders:

http://www.rsf.org/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=542

Beyond this, a number of folks have tried to make explicit an ethics
of blogging, particularly related to maintaining the privacy of
others. Some have borrowed from the SPJ's code:

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

Though similar codes could be taken, e.g., from the CPSR's code.

There have been a number of examples of ethical (and legal) concerns
revolving around blogging practices. A small sampling might include:

1. Spam blogs (aka "splogs") and businesses setting up blogs that are
supposedly by disinterested individuals.

2. Issues of privacy borders: e.g., the "nanny diaries" issue that
appeared in the NYT and on a nanny's blog:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/17/fashion/sundaystyles/17LOVE.html?ex=1279252800&en=2aa784f268adbfde&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

3. Questions (again recapped from journalism) about whether bloggers
should be paid, and whether they should disclose payments. Some of
this arose around bloggers for the Dean campaign, and it has shown up
elsewhere. A number of bloggers post their own policies.

4. Issues regarding editorial policies. E.g., the recent furor over
Bitch, Ph.D. banning a discussant. See:
http://www.erinoconnor.org/archives/2005/11/of_blogs_commen.html

This is just for starters :).

Alex





On 11/29/05, Charles Ess <cmess at drury.edu> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I'm about to interviewed for a newspaper story (Pittsburgh) on blogging and
> blogs - of the many things I know so little about, those would be right up
> there... (the vagaries of reporting, I suppose...)
>
> While I have a few meager thoughts on the phenomena, including a shred of
> ethical reflection - would the air community like to throw any important
> thoughts (and references) my way?  I'll happily credit anyone I can cite -
> and/or refer the reporter to the _real_ experts out there in AoIR-land.
>
> Let me know - and thanks,
> -- cX (the unknown charlie, who followed the original Charlie onto the
> executive committee - tee-hee)
>
> Charles Ess
>
> Distinguished Research Professor,
> Interdisciplinary Studies <http://www.drury.edu/gp21>
> Drury University
> 900 N. Benton Ave.              Voice: 417-873-7230
> Springfield, MO  65802  USA       FAX: 417-873-7435
> Home page:  http://www.drury.edu/ess/ess.html
>
> Co-chair, CATaC'06: http://www.catacconference.org
> Co-chair, ECAP'06: http://www.eu-cap.org
>
> Professor II, Globalization and Applied Ethics Programmes
> Norwegian University of Science and Technology
> NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway
> http://www.anvendtetikk.ntnu.no/pres/bridgingcultures.php
>
> Exemplary persons seek harmony, not sameness. -- Analects 13.23
>
>
>
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--
//
// Alexander Halavais
// Graduate Director of Informatics
// University at Buffalo School of Informatics
// http://alex.halavais.net
//