Hints on creating quality, ethical blogs.

Transparency: Example is Jeff Gannon, the fake White House correspondent. You need a clear “about” page, full disclosure about conflicts, biases, or vested interests, and a commitment to honesty about who you are. Don’t try to be something you’re not. But what about bloggers who want to be anonymous? KG thinks you shouldn’t. Transparency can be strategic, minimize fisking,

Get your citations correct: Example is Michael Gorman’s Library Journal Revenge of the Blog People article published last March. He never said who called him an idiot and you can’t find it using search engines. You should link to and name your sources and documentation, avoid anonymous sources, and always check a secondary source. You are responsible for what your blog says.

Get it right: Example is Judith Miller, the New York Times reporter who spent time in jail and was wrong about WMD. Being wrong has consequences. Check your facts and re-check your facts after you publish. Examine each source for credibility and motive for publishing, dual source, avoid anonymous sources, and link to your source.

Be fair: Example is Bill O’Reilly, Fox news, who shouts people down. He’s not fair. How to be fair: Let a source know when they are on the record; you can be opinionated but don’t present opinion as fact; if you claim to be objective, then you better present all sides of the issue, let your readers comment (within reason). Is this news or opinion?

Admit your mistakes: Example is Bill Clinton. People need to know the errors you’ve made.  You should be direct and alert your readers about the error. Tell them how it happened.


Nice quote:

“Investigative reporting is not stenography,”