On blogging ethics

Cong Corrales

I AM not the most decent nor respectful person on micro-blogging sites like Facebook and Twitter. That’s the reason why social media sites lured many souls to go online. It is designed to be personalized. You can post anything – from your daily banalities to political rants.

Blogging, however, is a totally different online animal. I have been a netizen since 1995 and I have learned a lot on how to comport myself in the virtual world. I have learned the limits of posting sarcastic and acerbic posts online.

When www.aboutcagayandeoro.com came live online, I was happy. Happy that there are young netizens – there are names in the blog site that are not that young but young at heart – who have been blogging about our hometown. It showcases our city to the rest of the virtual world.

However, their site’s news section has been plagiarizing news stories from local news organizations. I remember my ex-girlfriend (she works for another paper) complaining that their news stories were featured in the blog site without the benefit of a link to their paper’s website. I brushed if off by saying: It’s not our story they plagiarized. I know what you’re thinking. My ex-girlfriend knows I can be an ass at times.

About a fortnight ago, our story about a principal of a public school being sued for lasciviousness was featured in www.aboutcagayandeoro.com’s news section. Now, that it has happened to us, I wish I did something when my ex-girlfriend called my attention to this up and coming blog site. Now, the s**t just got real, so to speak.

I scanned the “about us” of the blog site. I saw a familiar name on their roster. However, long-time family friend, Eugene Kanlapan has posted on my wall denying involvement with the blog site’s administration. That fact did not surprise me. I trust Eugene – a long-time blogger and netizen – would not knowingly plagiarize.

I ranted about it on my Facebook wall and tagged friends online who I know are major players in the local blogging community. A day after my online rant, a certain Bryan King messaged me on my filtered inbox. First, I automatically delete message requests on my filtered inbox because of this nasty virus that makes your account post random porn videos and pictures on the walls of your Facebook friends.

I have copy-pasted their reply on the plagiarizing issue below. I’d like to give a short shoutout of thanks to Ms. EmAban for bridging the communication lines between Gold Star Daily and www.aboutcagayandeoro.com. She copied King’s message and sent it to me.

“Good afternoon. We heard about your concern from EmAban. It’s not our intention to make you feel that we’ve stolen you’re [sic] story. The purpose of re-writing your story is to inform the public as some of our audience are teens and might be affected by the news. That’s why we also tagged you as the source and we’re not claiming that we did the research ourselves. We recognize big medias [sic] like you that’s why we reference you always for news like this. We apologize for the inconvenience this has caused you. We can take down this article if that’s the best solution for this issue. Let me know what you want us to do in exchange of sourcing news from you. Thanks.”

First, it is common knowledge (or I thought it was that common, anyway) that when you cite an article, you put the link of where you culled it from. That is not just professional courtesy. It is about intellectual honesty and accountability. Mr. King, you did not “tag” our website, Sir. If you did, when the cursor hovers on the “tag” you said you published it would have turned into a pointer icon.

That is why I ranted on my Facebook wall that what this enterprising blog site did is still plagiarism.

I have handled blog sites, Sir. I used to maintain and write content for the institutional blog site of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. You can check out how we deal (read: link) quotes and articles not our own on the blog site: www.pcij.org/blog. Please look at the blog entries from 2013 to 2015.

Second, the best solution for this issue, Mr. King, is for you to practice the bloggers’ code of ethics.

For your perusal and subsequent reflection on the matter, I will publish here a model Blogger’s Code of Ethics. This code of ethics has been arrived at by bloggers all over the world by modifying the code of ethics of the Society of Professional Journalists.

Here goes:

• 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 those 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 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.

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.

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.

I understand that both our aim here is to inform and enlighten. We can do it without infringing other’s intellectual property rights. Our aim is to serve.