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Myspace as a reporting tool

Discussion in 'Journalism topics only' started by Jeff Gluck, Jun 6, 2006.

  1. pallister

    pallister Guest

    At this point inthe MySpace culture, it is a judgment call. My judgment tells me not to look at teenagers' Internet pages, especially without their permission. That's all.

    BTW, you can choose to make your page off-limits to people other than your "friends," and I'm not sure all these kids realize that. Therefore, as I said, I think these pages are quasi-public at best.
     
  2. Flash

    Flash Guest

    Yes, but in our desperate 'pay attention to me' society, I really don't think a lot of teenagers care and they're willing to put themselves out there. They just don't know the hazards of doing so.
     
  3. buckweaver

    buckweaver Active Member

    no, i doubt all kids realize that *anyone* can see their pages, and it can bring them trouble if they post something someone doesn't like. which is why you have to use your judgment about what to do with that information. but it doesn't mean it's not out there, and i think it's pretty similar to googling someone's name, or looking up a source by any other internet method. would you say the same about googling someone's name, finding a web page (on another server than myspace) or some other personal site, and them not knowing that, either?
     
  4. pallister

    pallister Guest

    If it was a teenager, a minor, yes. That's the primary distinction.
     
  5. Flash

    Flash Guest

    Is there not a 'public availability' consent thing that has to be agreed upon? I know, I know, that's fishing because anyone can click the 'I'm over 18' button ...
     
  6. Jeff Gluck

    Jeff Gluck Member

    There's no doubt that making a public web page about yourself on one of the busiest sites on the web is fair game to browse.

    That's why I'm 14 years old on myspace. ;D
     
  7. LemMan

    LemMan Member

    I would never quote from a MySpace page, mostly because you have no idea who you are quoting. As for looking at the page - that, to me, is fair game. No one's forced to start a page. People choose to, and when they do, they are opening themselves up to anyone with a computer.

    Pallister, a diary is different than a MySpace page. A MySpace page isn't tucked away in a dresser drawer, and since the Internet is open to everyone, it shouldn't be a vault for anyone's secrets.
     
  8. f8andbethere

    f8andbethere Member

    "A MySpace page isn't tucked away in a dresser drawer, and since the Internet is open to everyone, it shouldn't be a vault for anyone's secrets."

    Good thing my co-worker in the cubible over doesn't know that. It's fun to read her secrets. Especially when she bad mouths the paper. ;D
     
  9. I don't think I'd quote from a myspace (or facebook) page, though I don't think it was a bad idea in the case of someone who was dead.
    I wouldn't feel creepy for looking at the pages either, but I have a SERIOUS problem with a reporter being a myspace friend with a subject. If they were already friends, fine, but otherwise, that crosses some boundaries.
    And even if isn't meant to be like that, that's certainly how it appears. We should avoid the perception of bias and perception is reality.
    What would you think if you saw a reporter as a myspace friend of an athlete? I'd think either homer or creep. Either way, I wouldn't be hiring that reporter.
     
  10. Blue_Water

    Blue_Water Member

    If you quote from a myspace page you deserve whatever comes your way.

    I saw two pages of athletes I cover and have known for a little while. Everything on there was believable, including having themselves on their friends list. The pages were complete fakes with someone pulling the information about themselves from various web sources.
     
  11. Ace

    Ace Well-Known Member

    Quoting from a myspace page should be done with discretion, but looking at a myspace page of an athlete you are about to interview is enterprising.

    Why anyone would be against that is beyond me.
     
  12. tyler durden 71351

    tyler durden 71351 Active Member

    I would be very leery of quoting information from a MySpace page in an article...for example, I created a fake MySpace page for a friend of mine who didn't want to join the site. And along with some other friends, we put tons of fake info about him, made him become buddies with bad heavy metal bands and gay porn stars. (this guy likes indie rock and he's straight). I could only imagine the sort of lies a teenager would put on there to get a laugh from his/her friends. Or a kid making a fake site as a prank or to get back at someone.
    If you want to use the site to get an idea of what a kid is like before an interview, OK. But that's about all I would do with it.
     
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