Should Your Site Be Non-Partisan?

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It’s no secret that every Web site revolves around content. If you’re a Webmaster, content is one of your main concerns. You have to decide what goes on the site, lay the groundwork for content rules, and you’re the one who reaps the rewards of that content - if there are any. But when you’re so personally involved with your pages, it’s easy to become personally involved with the content that’s displayed on them. When there are two sides to every story and many, many choices and opinions on every subject, should your site be non-partisan?

Even if you don’t always have a direct hand in creating the content on your site, it’s still something of a reflection on you. After all, it’s your site, and in a way you are responsible for everything those pages have to offer. But does this mean you also have a social responsibility to stay neutral in every argument and present both sides to every opinion? Is it okay to make a choice, take a stance and pick a side?

Freedom of the Web

For the most part, the Internet is a content free-for-all where anyone can display anything. In some cases, displaying certain content may require disclaimers (material not suitable for those under the age of 18, for instance), but this does not stop you from displaying this material.

Legally and according to the open, free-speech nature of the Web, it’s okay to express personal opinions and to make a strong stance. For instance, if you operate a news site and you would like to back one political candidate over another, there’s no laws or rules of content which says you cannot do so.

Freedom of the Web means that, as far as rules are concerned, you won’t be breaking any by making a choice or displaying content which is meant to support one side of an issue but not the other. As a matter of fact, you can create an entire site devoted entirely to a single group, concept or idea. For instance, many Web sites dedicate themselves to a particular sports team, author, politician, political party, religious affiliation, celebrity, and so on.

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