Beats and Tweets: Journalistic Guidelines for the Facebook Era - Inside NPR.or... - The Diigo Meta page

• 15 Oct 09
  

  Michael Becker

  In the spirit of transparency, NPR posts its social media guidelines for reporters and other staff members.

  NPR social media guideline policies social_networking

  • Summarizing the guidance in an e-mail message, Senior Vice President for News Ellen Weiss urged the staff to "use social media for journalistic purposes and as a way to connect with the audience." Weiss also reminded our journalists -- including the engineering, operations and news administration staffs -- to avoid doing "anything online that will damage your credibility or the credibility of NPR."
  • "are relevant to ALL employees."
  • 11 more annotations...
  • • In the spirit of openness that social media often represents, we thought we'd share with you the full text of these Social Media Guidelines.
    • First and foremost -- you should do nothing that could undermine your credibility with the public, damage NPR's standing as an impartial source of news or otherwise jeopardize NPR's reputation.

      • 

        Michael Becker on 2009-10-15

        People don't stop being reporters (or employees of any kind) when they go home for the day. You have to remember that, as a professional, you need to conduct yourself accordingly.
    • Anyone with access to the web can get access to your activity on social media sites. And regardless of how careful you are in trying to keep them separate, in your online activity, your professional life and your personal life overlap.
    • don't behave any differently online than you would in any other public setting.
    • Additionally, law enforcement officials may be able to obtain by subpoena anything you post or gather on a site without your consent -- or perhaps even your knowledge.
    • Journalism should be conducted in the open, regardless of the platform. Just as you would do if you were working offline, you should identify yourself as an NPR journalist when you are working online.
    • You should always explain to anyone who provides you information online how you intend to use the information you are gathering.
    • Content gathered online is subject to the same attribution rules as other content.
    • You must not advocate for political or other polarizing issues online. This extends to joining online groups or using social media in any form (including your Facebook page or a personal blog) to express personal views on a political or other controversial issue that you could not write for the air or post on NPR.org.
    • Realize that social media communities have their own culture, etiquette and norms, and be respectful of them.
    • Social media is a very dynamic ecosystem so don't be surprised if we continue to revise or elaborate on our guidelines at a later date. In the mean time, we welcome your feedback.

      • 

        Michael Becker on 2009-10-15

        Important. I'm glad to see that NPR realizes that these guidelines must be flexible.
• 

  Amr Gharbeia

  NPR socialnetworks journalism

Public Stiky Notes

• 
  Michael Becker on 2009-10-15
  People don't stop being reporters (or employees of any kind) when they go home for the day. You have to remember that, as a professional, you need to conduct yourself accordingly.
• 
  Michael Becker on 2009-10-15
  Important. I'm glad to see that NPR realizes that these guidelines must be flexible.

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