Bloggers register-a little too far one feels

Now here is a interesting idea.

A European member of Parliament Marianne Mikko who hails from Estonia has tabled the idea that bloggers should set up a registry that would reveal their credentials, relationships and special interests.

The idea,I Suppose that those reading will be aware of the level of expertise and propaganda.

To be fair to Ms Mikko,I am sure that she has the best interests of the blogging community at heart.

The draft report says

…whereas weblogs are an increasingly common medium for self-expression by media professionals as well as private persons, the status of their authors and publishers, including their legal status, is neither determined nor made clear to the readers of the weblogs, causing uncertainties regarding impartiality, reliability, source protection, applicability of ethical codes and the assignment of liability in the event of lawsuit…

But surely she is missing the point about blogging,it is in most cases an amateur pursuit.Furthermore if the rules are to apply to blogging then surely thy should apply to mainstream journalism.I am sure that we would all like to see the credentials and relationships of professional journalists and the papers they work for.

HT-Jennifer Woodard Maderazo