When is an online comment defamatory?

If you post something libellous on Twitter about a local rival politician, and have only 30 followers, you can get sued. If you say something potentially libellous, using a pseudonym, on a UK newspaper site, with page views in the millions, you’re fine – that’s just “pub talk”.

• While defamation, in the shape of slanderous and libelous comments, has been around for many decades, the problem has been exacerbated by the advance of the Internet as a reporting and social tool. While comments made in newspapers and even on the TV have a limited shelf life, those made on the Internet can remain on the website where they were first added as well as on other blogs and websites and even in the cache of search engines for many more years.

Fortunately, this same problem also leads to a possible resolution. While successfully trying an online defamation case can prove difficult, positive comments and good SEO can be used to beat defamatory comments by consigning them to lower search engine positions. This may not be an absolute solution but it can certainly help to rebuild character and improve online branding following a defamatory attack.

“If the French can do it, so can Americans”

Our video conference with Governor George Allen was a great experience. Former Senator George Allen (R-VA)

Governor Allen stressed the importance of, “do not spend what you don’t have.”

“Defense wins championships”

Campaigning and advancing ideas is how we can get this country back to work.

Governor Allen’s 4 pilars in a free and just society.

1. Freedom of religion
2. Freedom of expression
3. Private ownership
4. Rule of law (fair adjudication of disputes)

Sportsmanship, fight hard for what you believe in.

The internet has been the best invention since the Gutenberg press.

“Education is personal empowerment.” -Dr. Allan Merten

Journalism vs. Blogging

• Journalists are defined by what they produce; bloggers are defined by the technology they use.
• So how can we trust blogs? By the evidence that they give for what they write, and the quality of that evidence. Curiously, many professional journalists still expect users to trust them without showing their own evidence, and that leads to suspicion.

Another difference between journalism and blogging; How about accuracy?

• As the premium is on speed, accuracy check has to come later. How many times have you noticed breaking news on CNN saying there are 6 dead, then 30 minutes later changing that to 9 dead, then another hour later changing that to 15 dead, etc. The mainstream media also have to make corrections if their initial reports were inaccurate. There is nothing new about that.
• Professional reporters will be able to enter a press briefing and interview the officials. This is more difficult for bloggers to do, but that is changing fast – bloggers are getting press passes more and more these days. On the other hand, an eye-witness will be more relaxed and open to a neighbor with a cell phone than with a reporter shoving his/her microphone in your face and shouting questions.

Bloggers are more and more treated as journalists, given press passes and given journalistic privileges, some of them will be able to report news just as well as the traditional media, and since they do not have the space and time limits of radio, TV and papers, they can make both their summaries and their complete reports as short or as long as they want, with as much supporting documentation as they can find, and the audience will pick and choose what to read according to their own levels of interest.

What does a mobile journalist need?

I’ve compiled 4 lists of things I think a mobile journalist needs: hardware, software, systems, and mindset.

Using the information I have learned from class I will also add to this list.

Mobile journalism – hardware

• Smartphone with camera, video, audio, unlimited data plan
• Digital camcorder, iFlip, video recording device
• Portable mic
• Tripod, batteries, and chargers
• Portable chargers

Mobile journalism – software

• Apps for your smart phone
• Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare
• Google Maps
• Microsoft Word
• Adobe Reader

Mobile journalism- the mindset

• Tweet on the go
• Find stories that are not online
• Follow people in the community you are covering
• Think humor, art, quirky, just as much as regular news

Being a mobile journalist means you will be out and around the people. You may also need to have a GPS or an app on the phone that is GPS so you can get from point to point.

A mobile journalist needs the following:

1. Common sense
2. Having the intelligence to not pack *everything*. ONLY take what you need.
3. Understanding that it’s the CONTENT not the Quality. “It’s all well and good kicking around the outskirts of a desolate farmland or in another country and recording everything you see, but you will not get an internet connection anywhere for toffee… and if you do, it’ll be S-L-O-W. Any attempt at uploading/filing any kind of HD content will be futile.

Blogging

Stage 1 of blogging = play.

• Getting your first blog post and topic is very important to the beginning stages of a successful blog.

Stage 2 of blogging =feedback

• The comments your first few viewer leave is critical to the management and future of your blog.

Stage 3 of blogging = community

• Interesting topics in the community or around the area will generate more buzz for your blog in the area.

Stage 4 of blogging = fame

• Once your blog is recognized on a higher level, you know your content and work has paid off.

Stage 5 of blogging = exhaustion/death or writing job/happiness

• Creating a successful blog takes time. Results don’t show overnight. Consistent effort and determination will help your blog reach another level.