Ethical Practices among Media Bloggers in Information Provision in Tanzania

There has been a mushrooming of blogs on the Internet; in 1999, there were about 50 existing blogs and they were only known by a few individuals (Johnson, Kaye, Bichard, & Wong, 2007). However 29 percent (57 million) of American Internet users’ accessed blogs (Lenhart & Fox, 2006) and 8 out of 10 Americans knew what a blog was and almost half of America had visited blogs (Synovate, 2007). This phenomenal growth may be due to the dynamic nature of blogs; however, the aspect of ethical practices requires to be observed. While some blogs are updated weekly, many more are updated hourly (or even more frequently), with postings in reverse chronological order. Most are interactive and allow viewers to post comments (Lenhart & Fox, 2006). Unlike static websites, blogs depend upon hyperlinks not only to boost attention to their own blog but also ensure that users can be quickly led to relevant information. At their idealized best, we blogs are said to be a space to reflect on the ‘deluge of data’ (Blood, 2002) that receive, offering an antidote to the mass-mediated, corporatized culture that surrounds. They have the capability to report the news without constraints of censure or the pressures of advertising and draw upon a diverse range of sources. At their reductive worst, bloggers have been said to be strongly opinionated and even vitriolic in response to those who oppose their political positions (Johnson & Kaye, 2004).