[1472] in Commercialization & Privatization of the Internet
Journalistic ethics
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Joe Abernathy)
Thu Oct 10 03:59:51 1991
Date: Wed, 9 Oct 91 23:17:12 CDT
From: edtjda@magic322.chron.com (Joe Abernathy)
To: uunet!looking.on.ca!brad@uunet.UU.NET,
Cc: com-priv@psi.com
Sean Fulton writes:
Perhaps those of us who are press on this list should make a declaration
that this list's discussion is off the record (with obvious exceptions such
as press releases) or be excluded from the list.
I am willing to make such a declaration.
The only problem is that this will break down the moment that a new
reporter finds com-priv, or whatever list or discussion area. We can
speak for ourselves, but not for other journalists.
What we do is assume that we shouldn't use something unless it's a specific
response to a request for material to be used in a story, or if we can
contact the author and verify the accuracy of a post and obtain permission
to use it.
We in fact developed this policy in response to complaints from users of
the Internet who were quoted from newsgroups without their explicit
permission. Live and learn.
Joe Abernathy edtjda@chron.com
Special Projects P.O. Box 4260
The Houston Chronicle Houston, Texas 77210
(800) 735-3820 (713) 526-9711
