In searching for "Blogging Best Practices" I came across a variety of different ideas on what makes for good blogging. For this assignment I decided to focus on the ethics of good blogging. Susan Gunelius, an About.com guide, offers three "Top" blogging rules (her article can be found here: http://weblogs.about.com/od/bloggingethics/tp/Top3BloggingRules.htm).
The first one she mentions is to cite your sources. This is obviously an important rule for blogging because neglecting to do so is essentially stealing someones content and using it as your own. It's also common courtesy to give credit to the original author or content creator.
Second, she suggests you ask permission. I think that this is particularly true when using videos or pictures. It would be very upsetting to find out that your personal images are being used on someones blog without permission or some form of notification. Again, common courtesy says you should find out who created the content and ask for permission before using it. The article makes the distinction that if you are using more than just a few short words and citing the original author, it is important to get permission rather than just citing the source.
Third, she recommends "Playing Nice". In other words, don't assume that because you are writing a blog you can simply say whatever you want. If you plan on people reading what you are writing be sure to use caution and judgement in what you say and who you say it about. There are legal repercussions for writing dishonest or slanderous things, even on a blog.
More in depth reading on the subject can be done by reading the article by Susan Gunelius directly at:
http://weblogs.about.com/od/bloggingethics/tp/Top3BloggingRules.htm
