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Training helps bloggers hone professionalism, navigate legal issues
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by mtippett | June 13, 2008 at 10:15 am
434 views | 4 Recommendations | 6 comments
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Josh Wolf andDavid Ardia, director, Berkman Citizen Media Law Project at Harvard Law School
uploaded by mtippett
Miami real estate agent Lucas Lechuga began blogging to share his knowledge of the local market. He didn't bargain for a $25 million defamation lawsuit when he wrote that a Miami developer had gone bankrupt decades ago.
In Lake Geneva, Wis., commodities trader Gary Millitte registered the Internet domain name LakeGenevaNews.com eight years ago, but is so worried about the legal boundaries of writing online that he still hasn't started the ultra-local news site.
Non-journalists entering the world of blogs, online feedback forums, online videos and news websites provide information that newspapers and other media can't or don't. But many are now turning to professional journalists for help with dilemmas they're facing: When is something libellous? What's the difference between opinion and news? And how do you find public documents?
About a dozen would-be reporters navigated the basics of journalism at a recent training offered by the Society of Professional Journalists in Chicago. The group plans similar seminars this month in Greensboro, N.C., and Los Angeles.
This is an interesting evolution in the world of citizen journalism. We are considering offering an insurance solution to our members (or a sub set of them) and I'd love to hear what you all thought of this. Would this be useful to you? Let me know your thoughts in the comments here or by sending me a note. Thanks, M.
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (6)
at 10:44 on June 13th, 2008
OMG, we're going to have to PAY for insurance to post here? What about Your insurance?
at 10:47 on June 13th, 2008
Good Story! Mike and worthy of Front Page for all contributors to ponder. Put a Sticky on it, and all new members should be required to actually read this.
at 13:01 on June 13th, 2008
I think that offering us, at no charge, some sort of legal insurance would be a very prudent, and caring thing to do for members, especially the more active, consistent folks who cover a wide range of topics. And the more we offer original stories and/or commentary, the more we need some form of protection, just in case.
And I also think that we need to make a stronger statement, with more teaching tools, about copyright infringement and plagiarism. Some members arrive here truly not knowing the difference between a short excerpt (the highlight) and just plain stealing the whole thing. The sincere ones learn. But there are always those who keep pushing the boundary, by putting an entire story in the highlight box, or breaking it into 2 or 3 boxes (as though no one will notice they've stolen the entire thing!).
We also need to make things clear about not using copyrighted photos. This all ties into providing insurance of some type for members, because if we wish to have the protections offered news sites, then we have to act like a news site. And that means following consistent professional guidelines and laws.
at 13:12 on June 13th, 2008
Even senior members, editors, and staff are guilty of copying the whole thing, pep, without leaving original authors' names, just a link.
but this site encourages amateurs, observers, don't forget that. Anyone getting 'free' insurance should have to earn it, otherwise there's gonna be some serious abuse of the privileges.
at 13:27 on June 13th, 2008
Agreed, any perks should be earned.
Funny thing, I just opened a dialogue with other editors about consistency in what we ask of people. If we ask members to provide commentary with a highlight, then we need to not GS someone who repeatedly just provides a brief highlight and nothing more. Breaking news, of course, sometimes is just a highlight at first--but then it can be added to with updates.
We also need to make it clear that putting an entire story into separate boxes isn't, legally or ethically, any different from putting it into one box or just plain copying it. Excerpt means .....excerpt! ;}
I've noticed that new members who *get* Now Public and really like the concept here, enjoy it, and are challenged by it, quickly outgrow the early fumbling around. Often, just a comment or two on a piece, or an email (I enjoy talking to people and helping out, especially in email) and the new member just moves right on ahead into developing different materials and their own, original commentary. That originality I think is so important!
Then there are those who have no intention of going with the flow here, but eventually, that attitude is shown up. They just don't really, long-term, get the GS flags or draw readership.
A request: could we please ban the use of multi-color flashing avatars? Those things can cause epilepsy attacks, migraines, and vision problems. No need for 'em either; a picture or graphic in that small space is enough of a statement!
at 13:02 on June 13th, 2008
mtippett, I like this story. It's good stuff.