Is blogging becoming an ethical issue?

One of my professors recently sent me a link from the Innovation in College Media Web site about the Internet's influence on freedom of speech that I found very interesting.

In his article Bryan Murley, an assistant professor for Eastern Illinois, wrote:

"The best thing about the Internet is that it allows any U.S. citizen to put their First Amendment rights into practice with a minimum of effort.

A skeptic might say that the worst thing about the Internet is that it allows any U.S. citizen to put their First Amendment rights into practice with a minimum of effort.

The widespread use of the Internet has spawned a number of legal and ethical issues for journalists. The framework of U.S. law is scrambling to keep up with new questions posed by digital media, from RSS feeds and hyperlinks to intellectual property and fair use to weblogs and forum messages. Ethical quandaries have arisen as well in this new media landscape."

As a new blogger, I've run into my own ethical quandaries. Out of fear that I will violate a copyright law and steal someone's intellectual property, I've driven myself crazy trying to figure out what I can and cannot post. This is especially difficult when it comes to photos, as it's often hard to determine what can be freely used by the public and securing permission is a lot harder than it sounds.

All in all, I would say that the Internet is a good thing. Yes, it allows for the publication of information that has not been properly fact checked, and yes, it can dangerous when everyone is acting as their own editor, but at least more information is out there. I'm a firm believer in "the more the better," and I'd hate to think that free speech is being stifled due to the indiscretions of choice individuals. In a sea of false information the truth will shine, and it's time that people stopped looking at citizens as gullible morons who believe everything that it spoon fed to them.

There are rational people left. There has to be.

Don't you agree? Comment below and let me know.