CAN WE TRUST WHAT WE READ ON THE INTERNET?

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Ethics in Online News

Edward Spence and Aaron Quinn argue that ethical standards currently used in traditional journalism can be seamlessly applied to digital news medias such as

blogging.

Spence, Edward H. & Quinn, Aaron (2008). Information Ethics as a Guide for New Media. Journal of Mass Media Ethics, 23 (4), 264-279. Retrieved February 09, 2009, from http://www.informaworld.com.offcampus.lib.washington.edu/10.1080/08900520802490889

Ethics in Traditional Journalism2

Ethics in New Media3

Everyone can be their own news outlet

Ethical values of bloggers

Spence and Quinn say your average blogger is as ethical as your average reporter

Spence and Quinn Article4

Not about deciding if bloggers are ethical or not

Seeks to define blueprint of ethics

Argues traditional journalism and new media journalism are similar enough that their ethical guidelines can be identical

Blueprint of ethics for journalism

The Ideal Journalist

Accurate and truthful

Sincere intentions

Report what is newsworthy—contentious topic

Objectivity

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Rathergate Story

In 2004, Dan Rather reported on CBS’s 60 Minutes that he had documents which proved George W. Bush never completed his military service

Bloggers quickly denounced the documents as forgeries

Dan Rather resigned from 60 Minutes

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Rathergate Story

CBS did not act ethically; the validity of the documents was not verified before reporting

Bloggers acted just as unethically; their claims about the reports being fake were unproven

To date, nobody knows if they are real or not

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Discussion Questions

Are traditional journalism and blogging similar enough that they should be held to the exact same standards?

Do you trust websites like seattletimes.com more than, say, a random person’s Wordpress news blog?

Should you feel obligated to act ethically when blogging as an individual on the internet?

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