molly.com
Friday 18 February 2005
marqui: examining the cost of ethics
ETHICAL LINES ARE being drawn and redrawn in the blogging community. Marqui has been at the forefront of the debate.
In an excellent and detailed article, The cost of ethics: Influence peddling in the blogosphere, Marqui’s paid-to-post efforts lead the question about how we’re redefining the meaning of ethics in the context of journalism.
This is an issue that came up for me big-time, because I’m both of an independent spirit and interested in shaking up old models. Marqui suited me, because I felt I could work within my own ethics and maintain authenticity with my audiences under the guidelines of my contract with them.
So, while I’ve questioned the ethics of the general approach, and of how others might use this model less transparently than a person with my rather open style, I do think I got a bit of a surprise in the process. I did end up having to re-evaluate aspects of how I behave with my blog. Working through the program has helped me as an individual revisit what my sense of ethics are as a writer, educator, and public persona.
It wasn’t only until recently that I even saw what was a blatant request for leads for Marqui. I do have to say that had something like that happened early on, I would have bailed on the program. As it winds down, I’m finding it was an experience I’m glad to have undertaken.
Filed under: blog slut, blogging
Posted by: Molly | 06:59 | Comments (5)
Thank you for your thoughtful participation. We’ll miss you next time around. It HAS been an amazing experience, hasn’t it?
In the end, all we have are our morals, our ethics, our beliefs and our convictions.
I’m glad that you have remained true to both your commitments and your ethics. It says alot about your character!
Interestingly, while I am very aware of the ethics debate on the blogging-for-Marqui issue, I still have no idea who Marqui are or what they do (nor have I sought out that knowledge…)
thanks