A blogger's code of ethics

It is pretty obvious the Society of Professional Journalists' Code of Ethics wasn't written for online media — especially bloggers. But some rules can limit bloggers if they followed them.

Refuse gifts, favors, free travel and special treatment, and shun secondary employment, political involvement, public office and service in community organizations if they compromise journalistic integrity.

But not being recognized as a "real" member of the press, bloggers are essentially forced to accept favors, free travel and special treatment when it comes to getting into a closed event. Granted, citizen journalists ignore this ruling often, even when it's unnecessary.

My question to SPJ is, when will there be an online code of ethics?

The Future of Indy Media

Journalism professor Vadim Isakov gave a presentation in class Thursday discussing the future of independent media.

The Tech Trends Everyone Should Know:

1) Real Time Web
2) Light Blogging
3) Personalization Niche Targeting
4) Interactive TV
5) Identity Recognition
6) Augmental Reality
7) Mobile Life
8) Geolocation
9) Internet of Things

One debate we had in class was that #2, Light Blogging, almost downplays the art of actually blogging. To me, saying light blogging is unauthentic because someone else types for you is as ludicrous as when reporters complained about bloggers rifting off of mainstream stuff. It's all the same thing. Getting information out there as soon as possible is the goal. The way you do that is honestly up to you.

p.s. Many celebrities do not upkeep their own blogs and twitters homepages. Why start yelling at secretaries now?

Movies on the small screen

In the article "Wanna share ear buds?" published in the LA Times Nov. 20, 2007, David Sarno discusses the ever-changing forms of media — specifically the film industry. The first full-length feature film to go straight from production to iTune's was "Purple Violets," directed by Edward Burns. Burns decided to skip the movie-theater stage because "releasing a film online eliminates costs associated with printing and distribution, while also making the film available everywhere." Burns' film can be viewed on laptops, desktops and even iPods.

This story signifies to me that even other forms of media outside of journalism know they need to adjust the way they present their work and the way they make their products available to the masses. Just like journalists took to blogging to get information out there quicker, now the film industry is picking up on the same tip. 

What's next with the media?

Big Brother is on Your Back!

After reading CommonDreams.org's article "Big Brother is Blocking," I started thinking of how phone companies could possibly disrupt the free flow of information independent journalists share. What would happen if phone companies prohibited the picture messages every day citizens were sending out in Iran during the war? Some of the best and most up-to-date journalism would be censored, maybe even non-existent. Big Brother needs to know:

"Should your cell phone company decide who can send you a text message? Should your Internet service provider block your Internet movie because it doesn't like the file-sharing service you're using?"