This blog is dedicated to educating fellow bloggers about legal issues,
ethical issues and pitfalls related to blogging.
As we have categorized the information in each blog post,
it would make you understand these issues in a clearer way.
Also, do check out the video that we have done specially for you!
Its a simplified version of what we would be talking about.
Always remember to blog wisely! (:
Note:
To navigate around the blog,
Hover at the top(paperclips) to access our links,
Left (flower) for our profile,
bottom left (buttons) to tag,
and lastly, right (markers) to view our blog.
three cheers for us.
We are from Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Singapore, from a class module called Internet Governance and Law.
This is part of our school project, aiming to bring awareness relating to blogging, to bloggers out there.
Have fun!
10:42 PM
Monday, July 21, 2008
Some conclusion
First of all, before you start blogging, you need to find out about the implications involved about blogging. If you wish to rant about personal stuff and give critics, i think it is better to make the blog private. This will only allow approved user to access the blog.If you want to make the blog open to the world, then you would have to be very careful with the choice of words that you are using to safeguard yourself and don't forget to cite the references when you are taking quotes from copyrighted sources or gives credits.
Like what we are doing now. (:
References or sources taken to put in parts of this blog • The Early Years by Clive ThompsonPublished Feb 13, 2006 • http://nymag.com/news/media/15971/ • http://w2.eff.org/bloggers/lg/faq-defamation.php • http://w2.eff.org/bloggers/lg/ • http://www.cyberjournalist.net/news/000215.php
This is an exciting day for us as we've posted our own video on youtube! Two of the team members are in the video, summarizing what is posted on the most recent post. This is a change from just reading off the blog, right?
It is a really hectic school day, with projects to submit and everything else. We are really busy people, but still, we have come up with a few actions you bloggers might want to take, or teach your friends so as not to get yourself into trouble while blogging!
Be aware of potential dangers of writing in the public sphere; future employers, their families or complete strangers can read their posts possibly for years to come. While you may not want to censor their language, they may want to do so themselves, and they should at least be able to make that choice with as much information from you as possible.
Post to your blogs with only first name or a pseudonym. Without a last name attached to the blog, much of the danger of public writing is allayed.
If you have to rant about your lives, you may want to do so without actually stating the person’s name, and also with ‘symbols’ to represent the said person. So as to prevent confrontations, and the possible ‘threat’ of getting sued for defaming the said person. Only the close friends of the blogger would know about what’s going on. This would also keep them clear from possible confrontations, and getting into trouble with the teachers.
Educate people on how to cite quotes, should they take information from copyrighted sources. Presently, for the Early Childhood Education(ECH) course in Ngee Ann Polytechnic, this is a part of one of their modules. This allows the students to know about the different ways to cite different copyrighted material. This would not only help them when they are citing sources for their projects, but also on their blogs, keeping them clear of any possible trouble with the law that they could land themselves in.
Not only should students be worrying. Even working adults should worry about blogging about either their colleagues/bosses, company that they’re working for. This could land them in hot soup, should unfavourable comments/opinions be seen by the said person/party. There could be campaigns or events set up, to let the public in general, know about the consequences of their actions. If the comments are favourable/if they do compliment the said person, then sure, by all means, do post it up. However, if they are meant to put the person down, or defame him, and make him lose his reputation, then it should be kept unsaid or unexpressed in this manner. A blog is a PUBLIC diary that everyone in the internet world can access.
Make blog entries PRIVATE, if it is a rant post. It would also make your life a lot easier. And only your close friends are able to read it.
1:17 AM
You, as a blogger, abide by this!
Morning everyone! Well...today's topic is slightly on a more serious note. It is on A BLOGGER CODE OF ETHICS.
You must be wondering, aren't we just bloggers, simple as that? Why make things so complicated? Well, as blogging involves more than one person (your blog is in the world wide web mind you..), you cannot care solely about yourself. So, this is how we would conduct ourselves from today on, right bloggers? (:
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
So now you know!
Anyway here's a youtube video on code of ethics for bloggers.
Now you don't want to get sued for blogging, do you?
As bloggers, we often think that our blog is our "personal space" and we can write whatever about whoever we want. This is really not true. If you are not careful about blogging in anyway, you may find yourself in hot soup!
Well to make blogging enjoyable and fun, we have come up with a 3 points that bloggers must always keep in mind.
The three things
1. Posting an entry about someone that is totally false is considered defamatory. It usually causes the person to lose reputation and possibly loss of support or sales depending on the nature of that person’s job.
The elements that must be proved to establish defamation are:
a publication to one other than the person defamed
a false statement of fact that is understood as a. being of and concerning the plaintiff, b. tending to harm the reputation of plaintiff.
If the plaintiff is a public figure, he or she must also prove actual malice.
2. Posting information, an article or story that is copyrighted. By doing so, it could cause others to give credit to the blogger instead of the actual person who wrote the article. This may result in the author’s unhappiness and even a court case if he or she chooses to take legal action.
3. Publishing of material that is offensive (vulgar, sexually explicit). Use of vulgarities or racist comments in blogs may bring about disputes between people not only online but in the physical world, resulting in fights, riots, and even legal issues.
A blogger, Sexy Fragrance Prince posted this racist comments in his blog:
So so so... what is this pathetic malay man (again, it have to be a MALAY!!!!) doing in the train? ... Aiya....stupid MALAYS!! Even if you are a Malay and am reading this... good for you..coz this is my personal blog and i can say what i deem fit.... if u wana defend yourself.... i suggest you arm youself with education and a motor mouth to compete against me.. else dont bother... coz i will bet my life on the line that, should you challenge me in a conversation... you will lose like what a true malay would.... LIKE FUCK !!!
He is arrested after he posted the racist comments. One of the related blog regarding to this issue can be found here.
Posting sexually explicit material on a blog can also cause much unhappiness. Blogs are available for people of any age to view, that is why parents do not want their children to view such material. Those who disapprove of what is posted on the blog not only hold it against the blogger, but the service provider for allowing such material to be posted.
Today would be a real simple post. We would like all of you to see how blogging became what it is today. Enjoy!
January 1994: Swarthmore student Justin Hall creates first blog ever, Links.net. December 1997: Online diarist Jorn Barger coins the term “Weblog” for “logging the Web.” April 1999: Programmer Peter Merholz shortens “Weblog” to “blog.” August 1999: Blogger rolls out the first popular, free blog-creation service. January 2000: Boing Boing is born. July 2000: AndrewSullivan.com launches. February 2002: Heather Armstrong is fired for discussing her job on her blog, Dooce. “Dooced” becomes a verb: “Fired for blogging.” August 2002: Nick Denton launches Gizmodo, the first in what will become a blog empire. Blogads launches, the first broker of blog advertising. December 2002: Talking Points Memo highlights Trent Lott’s racially charged comments; thirteen days later, Lott resigns from his post as Senate majority leader. December 2002: Gawker launches, igniting the gossip-blog boom. March 2003: “Salam Pax,” an anonymous Iraqi blogger, gains worldwide audience during the Iraq war. June 2003: Google launches AdSense, matching ads to blog content. August 2003: The first avalanche of ads on political blogs. September 2003: Jason Calacanis founds Weblogs, Inc., which eventually grows into a portfolio of 85 blogs. January 2004: Denton launches Wonkette. March 2004: Calacanis poaches Gizmodo writer Peter Rojas from Denton. Denton proclaims himself “royally shafted” on his personal blog. December 2004: Merriam-Webster declares “blog” the “Word of the Year.” January 2005: Study finds that 32 million Americans read blogs. May 2005: The Huffington Post launches. October 2005: Calacanis sells his blogs to AOL for $25 million. December 2005: An estimated $100 million worth of blog ads are sold this year. January 2006: Time leases Andrew Sullivan’s blog, adding it to its Website. February 2006: The Huffington Post surges to become fourth most-linked-to blog
This would be our first entry. Hmm. Even though you MAY think this would be boring, but rest assured its not! Be sure to read all of our entries to make sure you do not get sued or into trouble just because you are blogging. We ensure that you would have a safe ride if you manage to read everything that we have!
Anyway, our first topic would be on the background, phenomenon , and stakeholders in the blogging world. Sit tight and do not fall asleep now.. (:
What is a blog?
Blog refers to a website, usually kept by a person updating regularly to it.
It is filled with entries of description of a day or event, contains pictures or videos uploaded by the person, and also contains comments made by friends or anonymous readers. It is usually displayed with the earliest post as the first entry.
The term “blog” can also be used as a verb, referring to a person maintaining or adding content to the blog.
Example, me saying "Oh I am blogging right now." means that I am actually adding content or doing something to my blog.
Due to the expansion and boom of World Wide Web, more people began using their blog as a personal diary.
As users of blogs increase, the usage of blogs began to vary as well. There are many different kinds of blogs to be found in the collective community of blogs, referred to as the “blogosphere”.
The most common kind is a personal blog : This blog serves a single person, reflecting their own life in words, pictures or pictures.
Next would be a corporate blog. Companies began to start up their own corporate blogs. This blogs are usually more serious, used solely for business purposes. This is very effective in enhancing their marketing, branding and public relations, and also communication to the outside world and internally within the company.
There are also various types of blogs, depending on media type.
One containing videos are called a vblog, one filled with links are called linklog, one with photos is a photoblog and so on.
Blogs also varies in genre. There are political blogs, travel blogs, house blogs, fashion blogs, shopping blogs, education blogs, interests’ blog and many, many more.
Singapore blogosphere
In Singapore, we have our very own blogosphere; with popular bloggers of different genre. In http://www.sgblogs.com/, they have a ranking of best blogs in Singapore. A few of the famous bloggers are Mr brown, Mr Miyagi, Xiaxue, Dawn Yang, and so on.
Some of the bloggers are actually featured in DL (digital life) on how they are making money just by maintaining a blog.
The popular bloggers mentioned above are actually sponsored by various brands, and a blog supporting organization called nuffnang pays bloggers for putting up advertisements in their blog.
Stakeholders in the blogosphere
The bloggers : People who maintains and adds contents to their blog.
Netizens/blog hoppers:Those who surfs the net and see the content of the blog.
The government: They will intervene when they feel that certain blogger is not abiding to the law while blogging, for example, being racist.
Advertisers: Pay bloggers to have their banner put on blog.
Well, not bad for a first lesson!
Stay tuned for more blog related information. till then!
