Blogging has become more influential and trusted among American society over the past ten years. Although journalism is based on facts and extensive research we rely on rumor mills and gossip sites to inform us on both news and information about celebrities. Incorporating blogging with newspapers may be profitable yet the opinions of others on blogs is misleading and can defy the code of ethics for news. The two entities should be separate and should never rise to the exact same standards as newspapers. Talk about sucking the life out of blogging, geez. Blogging is suppose to be fun, light, with a sarcastic tone that could be interpreted a thousand different ways. Libel law does not quite fit into the world of blogging. Blogging is based on the opinion of the blogger and one should not refrain from the liberty of free speech in fear of saying the wrong thing and being sued. Expressing your opinion can be accomplished in a tasteful way without being malicious. The laws for blogging should be called Malicious Law, ha! Receiving responses is a key component in blogging and a way to track the viewers opinions. Also, it does not matter if a name is given or not when someone blogs. I believe that leaving a name is a way for bloggers to be sued by larger companies.
When blogging there are a few tips that writer Dana Hull gives that should be considered. Politics, religion and any other topics that can cause controversy should be avoided while blogging. Writing about a variety of topics keeps your blog fresh, entertaining, and also keeps readers interested and coming back often. If something was written out of context correcting yourself before someone else does is a great way to keep the integrity of your site. Finally, remember to have fun!
References: Dana Hull Blogging Between the Lines, 2006.
