fired for tweeting - 10,000 Words

How To Avoid Getting Fired For Your Blog

Meranda Watling — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 05:00:01 +0000

When I started blogging about journalism, I did so at the urging of a hiring editor (who didn’t, ultimately, hire me but did inspire me). I had all these great digital skills, she told me, but she asked why had I presented her with carbon-based clips (i.e. paper) instead of a URL. I left the job fair and put the years of web design experience I’d been amassing to good work, and by the end of the weekend had built myself a website with clips, a resume, a bio and a blog about, what else, journalism and my place in the evolving industry.

That was a few months before my college graduation. And after putting so much work into the blog, I proudly stamped the URL on my resume and included it in my cover letters to prospective employers. To be honest, the blog’s inclusion wasn’t so much a way to show off my work as to cover my ass. When I interviewed for jobs, I discussed it. When I was hired, I searched the employee handbook and intranet for information about personal blogs. Soon after I arrived, I sat down with the executive editor and we discussed it. See, what kept me up late at night wasn’t the prospect of graduating without a job, but rather I did not want one of those editors to plug my name in Google and come across my blog, assuming I had hid or was hiding it.

I had flashbacks to that period and those decisions when I heard the story of Khristopher Brooks, who was fired this week from the job he hadn’t yet started because of the way he announced his new job on his tumblr blog. Brooks did a silly thing, but in my opinion, the folks he thought would soon be his new bosses did an even sillier one. (In my honest opinion, I think they come off looking out-of-touch and overly cautious for a news organization currently force-feeding its employees the “digital first!” company line, and he comes off probably having dodged a bullet.)

Here’s what got Brooks fired, and then, here’s my been-there-done-that advice on how to not get fired for your personal journalism blog.
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8 Journalists Who Were Fired for Tweeting, Part 2

Elana Zak — Wed, 25 May 2011 12:00:31 +0000

To paraphrase Liz Heron, the social media editor at the New York Times, a good rule of thumb when it comes to reporters using social media is don’t be stupid. But looking at the number of people fired for tweeting, it’s clear Heron’s advice is easier said than done. Without further ado, here’s the second half of “Journalists Who Were Fired for Tweeting.” (Check out Part 1 in case you missed it.) continued…

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8 Journalists Who Were Fired for Tweeting, Part 1

Elana Zak — Mon, 23 May 2011 14:12:07 +0000

When it comes to Twitter, journalists tread a thin line. While a lot of news organizations strongly suggest their reporters sign up for an account and gain followers, many don’t have a written social media policy. Even if you are off the clock, something you share in 140 characters or less can come back to haunt you. Here are eight journalists who should’ve thought twice before hitting the “Tweet” button. (Note: I’m going to post the first four today and the next four later in the week.) continued…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.