"If you work for AP, you're never off duty."

Samanfur · **Posted:** Wed Jul 20, 2011 2:35 pm

It seems that certain employers're keeping very firm tabs on their employees' social media accounts:

Quote:

In at least two recent cases," wrote Kent "we have seen a few postings on social networks by AP staffers expressing personal opinions on issues in the news.... These posts undermine the credibility of our colleagues who have been working so hard to assure balanced and unbiased coverage of these issues." Kent's blast was directed at a minority of AP staffers who had clearly embarrassed the company with their online comments. But - importantly - Kent's memo explicitly makes no distinction between personal and corporate comments. All it says is: "AP staffers should not make postings [on social networks] that amount to personal opinions on contentious public issues." In other words, if you work for AP, you're never off duty.

ezinra · **Posted:** Wed Jul 20, 2011 3:33 pm

Samanfur wrote:

In other words, if you work for AP, you're never off duty.

I've got some sympathy for the company here: how would we react if, for example, Nick Robinson posted on his Facebook page, 'Ha ha Milibandz u SUK!'? It would compromise both him and his employer. Media outlets like tv news providers and wire services have an 'impartiality' obligation. As an employee you're made very much aware of that until eventually it becomes part of your professional ethos. Any written (let alone published) document that is immediately traceable to you ought to be composed with your 'professional' head on.
I would extend this advice to anyone who has professional responsibilities — teachers, judges, managers, bishops, whoever.
As for AP's snooping, well, have they nothing better to do?

Samanfur · **Posted:** Wed Jul 20, 2011 3:42 pm

It was the snooping that caught my attention rather than the assertion that employees should keep a sense of professional responsibility. Like you, I'd have hoped for common sense when it comes to airing personal views (Georgina Littlejohn notwithstanding).

"If you work for AP, you're never off duty."

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