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Weblogs and Ethics

Mitch Ratcliffe, RatcliffeBlog, Oct 16, 2002
Commentary by Stephen Downes

Interesting bit about the ethics of weblogging. It seems that a number of writers were invited to a Microsoft conference where they were given some insider product briefings. The webloggers turned around and wrote enthusiastic reports. Mitch Tarcliffe, in this item, voiced his objections. Doc Searls issued an apology for not being more open, while Nick Denton, who did acknowledge the free trip, lashed back, writing, "While weblogs should hold themselves to high standards of transparency --CRLFafter all, frankness is the defining quality of the medium -- let's not pretend that the traditional media organization provides a shining beacon of journalistic ethics."

CRLFCRLFFor me, the whole question of ethics is a bit tricky - not because Microsoft thinks I'm worth flying to Redmond (I'm not). But let's face it, I don't travel on my own dime. Usually, my employer (the National Research Council) pays the ticket. NRC likes it when I get conference fees waived by speaking, and they like it even more when I get travel costs covered. The latter doesn't happen a lot. I don't receive anything from corporations - just as well, because as a government employee such gifts cause me more grief than gratitude. So how does this affect my coverage? Well I can only report on the conferences I visit, so there is a bias toward conferences that ~~don't screen their papers~~ accept my work. I'm a little bit softer in some instances than I might otherwise be, slightly more inclined to be charitable toward papers I've seen or companies I've met.

CRLFSo, what are OLDaily's journalistic ethics? How about this: I will report any external support I received - whether it be travel or conference fees - in my coverage of an event. Otherwise assume that NRC has paid for it (if it comes out of my own pocket, you absolutely will hear about it). NRC, and by extension, the Government of Canada, get a benefit of the doubt by virtue of being my employer. Additionally, I am also bound by the government's extensive conflict of interest regulations, which means there aren't any freebies behind the scenes.

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