Prof. Danny Arao writes ten benefits of having a national bloggers’ association of the Philippines.
In 10 arguments in favor of a Philippine bloggers association he presents the following:
- Professionalization
- Recognition
- Standardization
- Arbitration
- Association
- Institutionalization
- Organization
- Self-Regulation
- Mobilization
- Unified Action
From the above, it sounds like those formal entities recognized by the Professional Regulation Commission, for example.
Professionalization – “adherence to a certain set of ethical and professional standards as they go about blogging.”
Our question: Will bloggers who do not adhere to the defined set of blogging standards be penalized?
Recognition – “general public will have a bloggers’ association to look up to as regards how blogging should be done.”
Our question: How exactly should blogging be done?
Standardization – “define the professional and ethical standards of blogging and strongly encourage all bloggers (whether members or non-members of the association) to follow suit.”
Our question: Why apply the standards to non-members of the National Bloggers Association?
Arbitration – “could help resolve conflicts not only between bloggers but also with other sectors.”
Our question: Will the National Bloggers Association of the Philippines reveal who the Big Bad Blogger is?
Association – “empower its members to professionalize their ranks and raise social discourse to an even higher level.”
Our question: What will happen to relaxed, non-professional blogging?
Institutionalization – “outlive its officers and members and eventually stand on its own merit in the years to come.”
Our question: Will this mean the eventual end of personal blogging and the rise of institution blogging?
Organization – “blog-related actions are not anymore individual but collective.”
Our question: Will it still be called blogging?
Self-Regulation – “the blogosphere should NOT be regulated by the government.”
Our question: Government will not regulate organizations that grow large enough to effect organized social, economic, or political change?
Mobilization – “It is even possible for a national bloggers’ association to call on its members to write about a particular issue so that it would catch the attention of the public.”
Our question: Will good ol’ fashioned word-of-mouth (or word of mouse) become passé?
Unified Action – “forge alliances with journalist in promoting and upholding free expression, as well as in fighting any attempts by the powers-that-be to suppress media.”
Our question: Who will benefit more, bloggers or journalists?
Or perhaps you can just call it a National Online Journalists Association instead?
