Modul Mata Kuliah Journalisme Online - Ayo Menulis FISIP UAJY

Find facts, not just others' opinions, to support your comments. Start with sites such as our guide to
reporting to learn how to find real data, not someone else's spin. Make sure that what you are writing
isn't merely repeating some urban myth, either.
If you are writing about someone else, call or e-mail them for a comment before you publish. If your
subject has a blog, link to it. That link will notify the subject that you've written about them, and will
allow your readers to click-through and read the subject's side of the story.
If you want to write satire or spoofs, fine. But make sure your audience knows that what you are writing
is not literal truth. Tricking readers won't help you develop the respect, credibility or loyal audience that
truthful writers enjoy and rely upon.
Be honest
In summary, be honest with your readers and transparent about your work. If people wonder for a
moment about your honesty or your motives, you've lost credibility with them. Don't let them do that.
Answer those questions even before readers ask.
And most important is to never utilise your power of press for personal gains or simply annoying
someone.
© Online Journalism Review
http://wiki.media-culture.org.au/index.php/Online_Journalism_-_Ethics
Is there a limit to what blogs should and should not publish?
The line between what constitutes blogging and journalism is blurred and so too is the line that decides
the degree to which normal journalistic ethics apply to bloggers(Colin, 2004).
Wonkette and Drudge (in Colin, 2004) argue that there is a limit to what should be published by bloggers
and the that the lead can be taken from the written press. For example, if a newspaper does not print
the name of someone then bloggers can safely do the same. Colin argues that there are practical
considerations of legal liability that leave bloggers vulnerable. Newspapers have the advantage of capital
and lawyers to defend themselves from libel law suits.
Past cases show that bloggers have never been sued successfully sued for what they have printed. This is
illustrated by the case study of Blumenthal vs Drudge. Drudge accused Blumenthal of being a wifebeater
and online opinion found this unethical if not illegal. Drudgeâ€s blog had many influential
readers and the rumor, no matter how outlandish, was potentially damaging (Colin, 2004). However,
Blumenthal lost the case with the judge ruling that Drudge was not a journalist, reporter or news
gatherer (MacDonald, 2001). Legal experts, while pleased that the outcome upheld the first amendment
of free speech, remarked that this was not a good example of ethical online journalism. As evidenced by
this case, the ethical implications for bloggers rely on whether or not blogging is considered a form of
journalism.