News.blog: A bloggers' code of conduct?

With the line between so-called professional journalists and bloggers growing ever blurrier, an official has made a pitch for a voluntary code of conduct aimed at reining in the maverick blogosphere.

On the Internet, generally speaking, "there are no professional standards, there is no means of redress," said Tim Toulmin, director of the Press Complaints Commission (PCC), an independent body that enforces a set of standards for the UK newspaper and magazine industry. His statements were reported on Tuesday by the BBC.

When people have complaints about perceived inaccuracy or discrimination by print publications (and their online versions) that pledge to abide by the code, they have the option of airing their gripes before the PCC. The organisation then tries to negotiate a resolution, which could include the publication of a correction or apology, or a private letter of apology from the editor at issue.

The idea behind extending such a code to Internet writers isn't to get the government involved, Toulmin said. "We're not in favour of regulating the Internet," he said.

Laws governing libel in an offline context have already limited the meaning of terms "free speech" and "free press", and online publications shouldn't expect to escape, Toulmin suggested.

According to its Web site, the PCC received 3,654 complaints in 2005. Would enacting a blogger code of conduct incite a surge beyond what its staff could handle? Or would freewheeling bloggers be loath to commit to the rules in the first place?