A blog is a discussion or informal informational website, often in diary-style text. There are several types of blogs – personal blogs, group/collaborative blogs, video blogs, video blogs, microblogs and many more. As a writer, blogger is an important part of the wider public knowledge creation and discussion. The content of the blog will be ‘forever’ and thus it is important to be truthful, honest, ethical and respectful to be a blogger.

Ethical would mean conforming to accepted standards of social or professional behavior.

The Blogger’s Code of Conduct was proposed in 2007 by Tim O’Reilly to enforce civility on their blogs. Take responsibility not just for your own words, but for the comments you allow on your blog.

Code of ethics and conduct for bloggers:

1. Do no harm
   • Do not deliberately write information that can harm innocent people
   • Do not make racist remark
2. Be honest and fair
   • Do not plagiarize.
   • Identify and link to sources whenever feasible
   • Never publish inaccurate information
3. Treat subjects as human beings who deserve respect
4. Accountability
• Disclose conflicts of interest, affiliations, activities and personal agendas.
• Admit mistakes and correct them immediately.
• Expose unethical practices of other bloggers.
5. Accuracy
   • Try your best to be accurate on the content of the blog.
   • Tell the truth at all times.
6. Minimize Harm
   • Be sensitive when dealing with vulnerable groups i.e. children
   • Be sensitive and show compassion when using interviews or photographs of those affected by tragedy or grief.
   • Recognize that people have a right for privacy.
7. Present opinion as opinion. Do not confuse with fact.
8. Label your tolerance level for abusive comments.
9. Don’t say anything online that you wouldn’t say in person.
10. Give credit when it’s due.

Conclusion:

Personal value and personal integrity play vital roles for credibility of bloggers.

Reference:

1. https://mor10.com/code-of-ethics-for-bloggers-social-media-and-content-creators/”>https://mor10.com/code-of-ethics-for-bloggers-social-media-and-content-creators/
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blog”>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blog
3. http://ijnet.org/en/blog/basic-ethics-bloggers”>http://ijnet.org/en/blog/basic-ethics-bloggers
4. https://fromtheleft.wordpress.com/bloggers-code-of-ethics/”>https://fromtheleft.wordpress.com/bloggers-code-of-ethics/
5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blogger%27s_Code_of_Conduct”>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blogger%27s_Code_of_Conduct
6. http://kikolani.com/become-ethical-blogger.html