The Washington Post has published a set of guidelines for online journalism and the use of social media by its staff. For the newspaper this series of recommended procedures is a step beyond its 2009 social media policy which also covered how reporters should use Twitter but was widely seen as overly restrictive.
Social media continues to pose numerous questions for newspapers and other publications and news sites about the news gathering process, the conduct of a paper's reporters, and how best to interact with news sources and the news reading public. The newer attention now appears to be on such areas as how to present reporting that comes from elsewhere and gauging the believability of information from unnamed sources.
Post ombudsman points to guidelines' transparency
"The move is a leap toward transparency for this company and toward making journalists more accountable to the readers, their customers," Washington Post Ombudsman Patrick B. Pexton wrote in "Digital publishing gets transparent at The Washington Post," September 2, 2011. "And the guidelines come after months of discussion in the newsroom and input from company lawyers worried that if The Post's journalistic standards were published, it could invite more lawsuits, frivolous and serious, from people trying to - oh my gosh - hold the publication to those standards."
With the presence of newspapers becoming more dominant online, bloggers and operators of other Web sites have been increasingly dismayed as papers ignore or minimize information from them that is posted sooner. "The Post is notorious among local bloggers for failing to note when they got to a story before the Post, or for vague attribution only to 'a local blogger,' so I am pleased with this statement: 'E-mail alerts, social-media postings, and other digital news reports based on non-Post reporting should clearly attribute the information to its specific source'," said newspaper veteran Steve Buttry, director of community engagement and social media for the Journal Register Co., in "I applaud Washington Post conversations about social media and digital publishing," on his September 3, 2011 blog.
Buttry also called on the Post and other papers to make a distinction between the use of "anonymous" and "confidential" sources in their reporting. Publications should indicate when they don't know the identity of a source and when they do know but aren't revealing it, he said.
"The guidelines at times sound more fearful and rigid than I would like and less trusting of journalists' good judgment, but they are moving notably and substantially in a less fearful and rigid, more trusting direction, so I welcome the direction rather than quibbling about details," he added.
Handling matters of taste and breaking news
Matters of taste and tone are addressed as well in the Post's guidelines, emphasizing that no link should ever be made to material with profanity or that could otherwise be considered offensive to some without the authorization of top-level editors and the inclusion of an advisory.
On certain occasions when breaking news occurs, Post writers will self-publish directly to the paper's site online without the input of copy editors, fact checkers, or especially a managing editor. Senior editors must still give their OK in these instances and an editor is required to read and review the posting, with the customary level of scrutiny, as quickly as time allows following publication on the Web.
This information can be seen within minutes if it appears on live blogs, is tweeted, or is on Facebook postings, which makes time of the essence if an editor must make any substantial changes.
As to issues of copyright, the newspaper needs express permission to use content or must be able to reasonably argue that "fair use" is a legitimate defense in its publication. Courts may have their own interpretation of what constitutes "fair use" or infringement. For videos that may appear on a paper's site from other elsewhere such as YouTube, the copyright owner may not have given permission for widespread dissemination of the video online.
Limits remain on ability to express all sentiments
The Post's document acknowledges that restraints have to remain on the expression of some views by those who work in the news business from the standpoint of professional decorum and objectivity. Therefore reporters must be careful as to what they tweet or post on Facebook or LinkedIn, particularly regarding public officials or coverage of an issue or event.
The guidelines state, "When posting online, ask yourself: Would this posting make a reader question my ability to do my job objectivity and professionally (whether you are a reporter, an editor, a developer or a producer)? If so, don't post it."
That includes Post journalists remaining aware of any overtures made to them from organizations involved in partisan political or other causes or advocating particular positions or links to sites that might appear on their public social network profile.
Reporters also have to be cautious about discussing on social networks any internal deliberations regarding their news organization or criticizing competitors.
In a 2009 memo to staff about its social media guidelines, the Los Angeles Times noted that "[y]our professional life and your personal life are intertwined in the online world."
Determinations need to be made in this arena because, while reporters often are encouraged to be more engaging in social media, expressions of some opinions could seem to be stepping outside of a professional role and even make some disclosures possibly subject to subpoena if legal issues ever arise about someone's reporting or related activities.
Sources:
- Washington Post Digital Publishing Guidelines
- Patrick B. Pexton, "Digital publishing gets transparent at The Washington Post," Washington Post, September 2, 2011
- Steve Buttry, "I applaud Washington Post conversations about social media and digital publishing," the Buttry Diary, September 3, 2011
- Los Angeles Times blog, "Times updates social media guidelines, November 19, 2009
John Seidenberg - John Seidenberg has worked on newspapers, newsletters, radio news, and produced specialized news publications as well as freelance ...
