Blogging on the Brink: Time to Set Standards?
Are bloggers on the brink?
With an estimated 50 million blogs thriving or wavering on the Web, some recent headlines signal changes in the blogosphere: Blog and Beware…Blogger Jailed… Blogger Signs Off With Apology.
Do bloggers need to be regulated to be responsible?
“There’s this Wild West mentality where people think they can do anything on the Web and not be held liable,” says a Harvard legal expert.
Increasingly now, bloggers are being held liable. One blogger was ordered to pay $1.8 million to a Florida man he referred to in a post as “a failed lawyer.” Another blogger was slapped with a $129,794 judgment for falsely stating that a woman’s property was “haunted.”
When a food blog in Los Angeles recently ran an anonymous item accusing a wine bar of health code violations and serving inferior food, the bar’s owners forced an apology from the blogger for the unfounded report. The incident spurred other bloggers to devise a Food Blogger Code of Ethics, in an effort to get culinary blogs to adhere to ethical standards including fact-checking, plagiarism, and conflicts of interest.
“There comes some responsibility with the things you say,” said one of the Code authors. But many food bloggers shrugged off responsibility, saying, “I’m not a journalist, this doesn’t apply to me.”
With voluntary ethical efforts like the Food Code falling flat, many are wondering if the government can—or should—force bloggers to abide by mandated guidelines. Currently in the cross-hairs of the Federal Trade Commission are bloggers who often write glowingly about new products often without disclosing a freebie, a payment, or a business relationship with an advertiser or corporate supplier. The FTC says it will soon act to make traditional truth in advertising guidelines apply to bloggers, too.
“If you walk into a department store, you know the (sales) clerk is a clerk,” said an FTC assistant director. “Online, if you think that somebody is providing you with independent advice and…they have an economic motive for what they’re saying, that’s information a consumer should know.”
Tell us what you think: Should bloggers be mandated to follow a code of ethics or other guidelines? Can bloggers be responsible to self-police? How much control should the government have over what bloggers write?
Liberty Mutual is a sponsor at the BlogHer conference in Chicago on July 24 and 25, 2009. The Responsibility Project booth will be an open forum for bloggers and other attendees to come share their viewpoint on “responsible blogging” – either on camera or by filling out a survey. The video content of the interviews will be available after the conference on The Responsibility Project website at www.responsibilityproject.com/blogher.
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Attorney
Blogging is still the real world. Publishing online may be easy to do, but it still comes with responsibilities. I think it is important for bloggers to be transparent in what they are doing – if they are receiving a product for free, just disclose that. Clearly. This new media provides opportunities to do new and creative ways to blend editorial with advertorial content – when done subtly, it is powerful. And marketers love that. However, some consumers of content will “get” that an ad is included, but others aren’t as savvy or sophisticated. This is why a policy of transparency is really important.
Linsey Krolik | 6 months, 2 weeks ago
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FED UP
AS I WAS SITTING AT THE TABLE EATING MY DINNER WITH MY WIFE, SON AND GRAND DAUGHTER WE WERE WATCHING A POOR WOMAN ON TV EXPLAINING HOW SHE LOST HER HOME AND HAD TO LIVE IN HER CAR WITH HER 3 CHILDREN I ALMOST CRIED. SHE WORKS FOR FEDEX AND FINALLY GOT INTO A SHELTER AND SEMI GOT BACK ON HER FEET. I FELT BETTER, THEN I SEE IN ANOTHER STORY THAT THE NY GIANTS ARE GOING TO PAY MANNING 97 MILLION OVER 6 YEARS AND ANOTHER CRIMINAL IS TRYING TO GET OUT OF PRISON SO HE CAN PLAY IN THE NFL. WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO OUR SOCIETY. WE ARE PRAISING CRIMINALS WHILE THEY PLAY SPORTS FOR OUR ENTERTAINMENT, WE SPEND MONEY ON THIS CRAP WHILE OUR FREINDS AND FAMILIES ARE HOMELESS AND STARVING. WE ARE SENDING OUR/CHINA’S MONEY ALL OVER THE WORLD TOTAKE CARE OF EVERY TOM, DICK & HARRIET AROUND THE WORLD. WHEN ARE WE GOING TO STAND UP AND SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. I AM SO VERY CONFUSED.
Scott Wayne Smith | 6 months, 1 week ago
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When do we sacrifice..?
Im a 26 year old African American male who has lived outside the DC area for my whole life. We as a people have asked and continue to seek for light within our government our president and our daily lives. but what is the disconnect? why are we not seeing “REAL” change? why has this race of intelligence chosen to utilize all monetary power, and intellect to destroy. we cant figure out how to help but we can figure out how to kill with the utmost precision. The root problem should be the discussion yet we never even bring it up. we talk about policy and who can we appoint to fix “OUR” problems and how much is it. why are we not looking to the root of the problem? So i say that we need to really look within, we live in a mystical world yet we live in it like its linear and Darwinian. It has been the time to rethink the way we approach our problem solution. Its not up to the president and its not up to god its up to us. we creat this world that we live in. we must understand that we have the potential to master all forces and overcome anything. WE HAVE TO LOOK DEEPER. what is it going to take to get people to change their disposition… ? LOVE&LUX;
Deron | 6 months ago
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response to deron
deron, only really serious catastophe’s seeme to matter; at the private, ordinary citizen level, it’s about ‘population’, not persons; t’was ever thus I’m sure.
bastiaan wever | 5 months ago
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individual blogger
I just wanted to say that your conscience is right on track! Don’t ever lose that clarity that allows you to see the discordance of our class system: We blame the poor for accessing “welfare” programs, but we praise the very wealthy for . . .just about anything they do. . .mostly for making money on the back of the poor.
Thank you. Your post renewed my confidence that SOME people can see right through the “silicone” society we live in!
Sadanie | 6 months ago
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Just an indepedent blogger's opinion
You are asking very important questions.
We are not only facing a financial and societal crisis. We are at the crossroads of a spiritual and human race crisis. The decisions we make at this time will decide what our society looks like in 10 years.
We are more divided than ever: Some people still believe in the vision of changes that our President wants to guide us to. Others believe in nothing more than bringing our new President down at all costs. . .even if our whole country has to be brought to their knees in order to bring our President to his “WATERLOO.”
How sick! And those are the “patriots” party?
If it wasn’t so sad, it would be laughable
Sadanie | 6 months ago
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Princess
What ever happened to “FREEDOM OF SPEECH”, Yes there is a fine line for slander, however if that be the case then refer to that subject. I think we as a consumer have the right to tell it like it is.
I have been ripped off so much lately with the economy being what it is, it is starting me to think about “GOING POSTAL”. I don’t but I do not hold back in spreading the word when a situation goes south. I am entitled to tell you or anyone else what the experience for me was. Whether it be good or bad.
My latest rant is with CHASE BANK…..I do not trust banks anyway, they will bend you over and have there way and no one entity seems to regulate the cheating that they do. For CHASE BANK I say run don’t walk to the nearest financial instituation if you like your own money………..
NEXT: Avoid the ER at Valley Hospital in Renton Washington…OMG what a bunch of arrogant individuals, not all of the staff but one tall blonde female MD that thinks she walks on water and her sh t doesn’t stink….what a piece of work she is nice to you until you challenge her then watch out. She is one individual that has that “GOD LIKE” attitude. Mabey she needs to have a good Bowel Movement to clear out her head.
Bob Lindsay | 5 months, 4 weeks ago
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Do we really need to
I do not beleive that we need the government to legislate rules for everything. Whatever happened to common sense, or is it just a oxymoron now. Whatever happened to right and wrong? . I agree that people need to act responsibly, but do we really need the governement to step and and legislate it. We need less government and more accountability like it use to be. it would be encouraging to here that there are more people out that that think this way. As conservative we need to start acting on what we believe and stand up for it before we lose everything. .God bless
concerned citizen | 5 months, 2 weeks ago
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math
good
Kulab chaingam | 5 months, 1 week ago
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Unfair pricing
Dear Sirs:
The Newport cigarette prices in the Northwest are somewhat targeted at the Afro American public and priced over $1.00 above all other major brand cigarette costs. Is this due to a higher price range for the Newport brand from manufacturers or is this a bad business gesture due to the customers of the Newport cigarette mainly purchased by African-Americans. This is quite serious all cigarette product stores and carriers have regimately set the price of Newports over 7.00 a pack while the other major cigarette brands, such as; Camel, Marlboro, and Winston remain closer to $5.00 perpack. The cartons are also priced $10.00 above all other major brans as well. My interest is why are Newports sold at a separate cost? It is possible that State taxes are responsible for the pricing differential, by this reason alone I do believe we have discrimination practices in the purchase & carrying of the Newport product. Although, I could be biased about this because I am a Newport smoker by choice {by the way, I am over 50 years old and I am also aware that Newports did not have a separate cost 30 years ago — I have spent several years in Europe and lost opportunity to the knowledge of this matter}. In comparison, the Newport cigarette is by far the most elite of smokers choice and the most satisfying {without nausea and coughing}. I am interested in finding out how and why retailers are getting away with customer targets such as setting higher prices for the Newport cigarette.
Kindly, Adrienne Jennings, 10301 Park Avenue South, Tacoma, WA 98444
Adrienne Jennings | 5 months ago
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