A Blogger's Code of Ethics

When someone thinks about citizen journalism the term "blogger" often comes to mind. If you enjoy reporting about current events whether they are on a local, national or global level, but you are not employed by a news organization, chances are you are a blogger since it is the easiest way to spread your thoughts and ideas to a massive audience.

Professional journalists have a Code of Ethics they must abide by. However, most bloggers are not employed by a company or organization to post blog entries and therefore they do not have an established set of guidelines for how they should report information. But bloggers SHOULD have specific standards for what they publish the same way reporters do.

Cyberjournalist.net created a Blogger's Code of Ethics by modifying the Journalist's Code of Ethics in order to provide serious, professional bloggers with a set of rules to follow for online reporting. Clearly, blogging is not just for Myspacers complaining about their day anymore.

If you can get fired from your job for what you say on Facebook then bloggers should be held accountable for what they report online.

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Even though the Internet gives people numerous ways to express their thoughts and ideas, one must always remember that the web does not give you a free pass to talk about whatever you desire. Simply put, if bloggers want to be considered journalists then they should uphold the same standards as journalists who are employed by news organizations.