MBA Ratified New Policies and Procedures

The Media Bloggers Association has ratified a sweeping set of new policies intended to formalize practices that had evolved since the organization was formed in 2004.

The MBA Mission Statement, approved unanimously by the board, expands on the MBA's original, informal, "Promote, Protect, Educate" mission, confirms the non-partisan nature of the MBA while spelling out the goal of extending "the power of the press, with all the rights and responsibilities that entails, to every citizen.

The new MBA Statement of Principles, the result of a long and often contentious debate, is an attempt by the members to articulate an ethical code for bloggers while recognizing the desire of all bloggers for complete freedom of expression. Rather than stipulate ethical requirements for membership in the MBA, the new Statement of Principles limits itself to "presenting standards as aspirations and offering guidance on how to achieve those aspirations through education, robust discussion and mutual support." Standards to which the MBA encourages its members to aspire include honesty, fairness, accuracy, transparency, accountability, and respect for the privacy of private citizens.

The new MBA Membership Policy is an attempt to bring order to what has been a chaotic application process. Bloggers will no longer apply directly to the MBA for membership but must secure a nomination from a current member in good standing based on the newly developed prerequisites for membership. Member applicants must agree to the MBA's membership policies. The current policy of not charging member dues remains in place but a shift in that policy is anticipated in the new policies contingent on the MBA being designated a 501c3 non-profit corporation.