At the Online News Association Conference in Washington D.C. this weekend, panelists discussed the merits of Social Networking Sites such as Facebook and Myspace and where journalists should draw the line when using them.
The Ethics 2.0 panel, moderated by former Washingtonpost.com editor Steve Fox, discussed the ways in which journalists can use facebook to interview students for articles, as well as whether or not they should have their own facebook pages. To use Facebook as a source of information is not considered too unethical – students still have to agree to friend the reporter and agree to speak to the reporters. Personally, I think it is just another way for journalists to get more interviews to better their stories, especially the ones that relate to a younger demographic.
In an article posted by Morgan Phelps directly from the ONA Conference, Washington Post reporter Jose Antonia Vargas is mentioned as a great example of a journalist who used Facebook to their advantage. Vargas contacted an eyewitness to the Virginia Tech students via Facebook, which led to a 25-minute interview and eventually a Pulitzer Prize winning article.
While finding and interviewing a student on Facebook is generally okay territory, panelists at the Conference wondered if it was acceptable for journalists to create their own facebook profiles. It may be extremely beneficial to reporters to create a profile as a means to create a sense of community with the readers. It is important, however, not to make the profile too personal, which can most certainly lead to claims of bias. Also, it can be an excellent tool for student journalists to use in many situations.
To find out more about the Facebook panel, as well as what else went on at the Conference, check out the coverage here.
