I came across this code of ethics proposed by www.cyberjournalist.net.
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.
Care to discuss?
Hits: 11
what the….. ;-p
my hobby is to download nice pics from the Net and i either distort or cut or what-ever-edit-tool them and put some words and draw some frames and finally jot down the blog's title at the bottom corner and upload into the entries.. err, am i exposed to the possibility of getting sued? ;-p
luckily i'm not blogging a political one as i might put aside the do's and dont's u just advised.
hahhaha.
Hahahaha…that's what the bloggers code of ethics is about?
If we do take someone else's work and republish it in our site, we are expected to either quote the source of such content or leave the url source intact in the link to that image or video that we copied from their site.
It's just a matter of courtesy. If you do take such images from Google Search or something, chances are that such content would have the links embedded in them already.
Some do however commit plagiarism at will and don't bother acknowledging the source of any such content that they pilfer from online.
That's the reason why I agree with the code of ethics for bloggers as well.
Tuan Mahaguru,
You know something which is more deplorable than that? It's the plagiarizing of another kind. Let me explain.
I am in knowledge of this one company. Made up of only two people. Yes, TWO. Turnover revenue annually: 40 million ringgit. And what do they claim they do? Oil and Gas. So in their office, in their brochures, you can see pictures and posters and colourful photographs of Oil platforms, Offshore Rig systems, Petroleum tankers etc etc.
Now whenever you talk to them, or ask them for their experiences and resumes, they will say things like, "Oh we constructed about 10 rigs off Terengganu shore" or "we supplied this and that to Petronas", which is conundric, because both of these were accountants: they do not even have engineers. Perhaps the only thing they know about Petroleum is how to SPELL it.
Now there's nothing wrong to become traders or middle-persons, but this widespread use of photographs and downloading pictures in the internet and then printing them as your own and then claiming that "you do them", opens a whole new meaning to the word conniving and a potential vista for white-collar crimes.
The fools in Petronas would be equally guilty in awarding contracts merely on the basis of what people TELL them in words. They should have visited the office, check the workers' presence, machineries etc etc.
Our two exemplaire heroes change BMWs every year and have residences in the most lucrative spots in the country.
Do not underestimate Plagiarism. It can get you very far. Criminally.
true. i admit that i'm not really ethical the first time i started blogging. but we can really be aware of consequences of our unethical actions.
i change by my own experience, and it's really not a nice experience during the past.