Respect and Responsibility

Blogging should not cause harm to anybody – both subjects and sources. Bloggers who conform to ethics should respect humans and be responsible for their actions. Cyberjournalist.net advises bloggers to be sensitive to audiences who may be affected by blog content such as children and inexperienced subjects or sources. This trait should also be observed when asking for interviews or photos of victims of tragedy.

Respecting the privacy of people not in the public limelight is also praiseworthy. Keep in mind that private people have the right to limit information about themselves compared to public figures such as government officials and celebrities.  Respect should also be given to victims and suspects by not giving their identities before formal charges are filed against them in court.

You should also respect yourself as a blogger. Be cautious about sources who provide information in exchange for certain favors. If you decide to accept the information offered, then you should reveal the favors to your readers. Your integrity is at stake here and it is hard to regain lost trust.

Meanwhile, a responsible blogger should be able to admit his blunders and correct them as soon as possible. Make sure to expound on the goals of your weblog and invite the public to comment on it. Any conflict of interest as well as information offered by sources in exchange for certain favors should also be revealed. Avoid pressures from advertisers who want to have a say on your content. Finally, don’t be afraid to expose practices that are unethical.