Martin Kuhn, as a doctoral fellow researching media law at UNC-Chapel Hill, developed a code of ethics for bloggers. Kuhn, who now has a fellowship with the U.S. Department of Justice, says he thinks of an ethical code "as not only a philosophically based, moral code but also as an ideal mode of behavior that we must strive to achieve."

PROMOTE INTERACTIVITY

• Post to your blog on a regular basis
• Visit and post on other blogs
• Respect blog etiquette
• Attempt to be entertaining, interesting, and/or relevant

PROMOTE FREE EXPRESSION

• Do not restrict access to your blog by specific individuals or groups
• Do not self censor by removing posts or comments once they are published
• Allow and encourage comments on your blog

STRIVE FOR FACTUAL TRUTH

• Never intentionally deceive others
• Be accountable for what you post

BE AS TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE

• Reveal you identity as much as possible (name, photo, background info, etc.)
• Reveal your personal affiliations and conflicts on interest
• Cite and link to all sources referenced in each post

PROMOTE THE HUMAN ELEMENT IN BLOGGING

• Minimize harm to others when posting information
• Promote community by linking to other blogs and keeping a blogroll
• Build relationships by responding to e-mails and comments regularly

Get $150+ in coupons in every Sunday N&O. Click here for convenient home delivery.