Congrats! you're considering striking it out on your own! You're building a future and one that you can be proud of. Even if you decide that the solopreneurship route isn't right for you, it's important to take time to figure out your own personal code of ethics when creating, curating, or sharing content.
In this worksheet, you'll read about different ways you can approach your own code of ethics, why it's important and what questions you should ask yourself as you build. Keep in mind that sometimes decisions are not always black and white, but you should be asking what things to you are set in stone.
Oftentimes, personal codes of ethics are too little too late — we're quick to assume what things are going well and what things are going well, not so well. Ethics conversations when done correctly establish trust, prestige, and understanding among an audience — however when done incorrectly can damage more than just your individual reputation, but also impact your surrounding industry as well.
Taking time to do the work in establishing your own personal code of ethics is worth it in the long haul. And will set yourself up for success when you hit those ethical questions, boundaries or even potential roadblocks or pivots.
Are you telling a story of holding folks accountable like Popular.Info or making folks laugh about the depths of the internet on Garbage Day? Maybe you're educating people on how to build a community like Rosie Sherry who started Rosieland, or just talking media tea like Delia Cai of Deez Links. Identifying the goal of your publication can be an important step towards making sure that what you're building falls within those ethical guidelines.
What is the purpose of your publication?
What topics does your publication cover? Why is your publication uniquely you? From what lens are you reporting it on?
What potential conflicts of interests may lie with that purpose?
Are you taking advantage of anyone? How are you choosing to report on this? How are you lifting and researching that purpose.
How may your purpose impact your monetization strategy? *Example: if you're working to hold tech companies accountable — taking money from tech companies may be a bit contradictory. *****
What sources of income may be impacted by your purpose? Example: If you're a beauty review blog — taking money from beauty companies may come across as inauthentic or discredit your reviews.