1. Blogging Issues: Dr. Jennifer L. Bowie Electronic Writing & Publishing A few things to keep in mind when blogging

2. When Starting a Blog Consider and define your: –Purpose –Audience –Style & tone –Genre/type of blog Choose a subject you are highly engaged with

3. Keeping your Blog Going & Making it Strong Update frequently and try to set some sort of pattern (once a day, twice a week,…) Serve your audience (if you want anyone to read it) Give references and credit when appropriate Back up your opinion with expertise and resources

4. Legal Issues: Blogs have the same “constitutional protections as mainstream media” (EFF) Avoid copyright & plagiarism issues: –Short quotes okay with credit –Facts or ideas of others okay with credit Libel Issues –Truthful criticism fine, but it is often difficult to prove in court –Opinions are protected, but you can’t just label something as your opinion to make it opinion, must be clear that it is opinion Example: Okay: “I hate Wal-Mart's new advertising campaign,” Not okay: “In my opinion Wal-Mart’s goods are cheaply made from slave labor” –Person must be completely anonymous: if you don’t name someone, but make it clear from the context who you are talking about it is libel (invasion of privacy) For more info see the EFF website http://www.eff.org/ and the EFF’s legal Guide for bloggers: http://www.eff.org/bloggers/lg/http://www.eff.org/http://www.eff.org/bloggers/lg/ Info from Reid Goldsborough’s “Personal Computing: Blogging and the Law” WSAE Newsletter, pg. 25 & the Electronic Frontier Foundations site http://www.eff.org http://www.eff.org

5. Work & School Issues You can be fired or kicked out of school for your blog –Flight attendant fired for “risqué” pictures taken on plane http://queenofsky.journalspace.com/ http://queenofsky.journalspace.com/ –High school students suspended for violent comments made on blog about teachers http://www.newsdaily.com/Quirks/UPI-1-20051208- 22390900-bc-us-blog.xmlhttp://www.newsdaily.com/Quirks/UPI-1-20051208- 22390900-bc-us-blog.xml –College student suspended for negative comments about a teacher on blog http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/dec05/375555.asp?format=print http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/dec05/375555.asp?format=print –Others have lost jobs for blogs and we’ll likely see more –Is this legal? Good question. Check out the EFF http://www.eff.orghttp://www.eff.org –Be smart and follow the legal guidelines next and the “FAQ: Blogging on the job” article: http://news.com.com/FAQ+Blogging+on+the+job/2100- 1030_3-5597010.html?tag=st.numhttp://news.com.com/FAQ+Blogging+on+the+job/2100- 1030_3-5597010.html?tag=st.num

6. Good Luck, Have Fun, & Be Smart! Blogging is for everyone!