The American Society of News Editors (ASNE) has issued a report on best practices involving social media in newsrooms.
It canvassed a variety of organizations (all but two of them U.S.-based) and developed a roster of items largely reflective of them. Most of these elements are in effect in most newsrooms today.
One interesting finding, and not necessarily a reflection of many newsrooms, is the recommendation that news be broken on a website, not on Twitter
The executive summary of the report identifies 10 key takeaways:
1. Traditional ethics rules still apply online.
2. Assume everything you write online will become public.
3. Use social media to engage with readers, but professionally.
4. Break news on your website, not on Twitter.
5. Beware of perceptions.
6. Independently authenticate anything found on a social networking site.
7. Always identify yourself as a journalist.
8. Social networks are tools not toys.
9. Be transparent and admit when you’re wrong online.
10. Keep internal deliberations confidential.
What do you think of its summary?
It canvassed a variety of organizations (all but two of them U.S.-based) and developed a roster of items largely reflective of them. Most of these elements are in effect in most newsrooms today.
One interesting finding, and not necessarily a reflection of many newsrooms, is the recommendation that news be broken on a website, not on Twitter
The executive summary of the report identifies 10 key takeaways:
1. Traditional ethics rules still apply online.
2. Assume everything you write online will become public.
3. Use social media to engage with readers, but professionally.
4. Break news on your website, not on Twitter.
5. Beware of perceptions.
6. Independently authenticate anything found on a social networking site.
7. Always identify yourself as a journalist.
8. Social networks are tools not toys.
9. Be transparent and admit when you’re wrong online.
10. Keep internal deliberations confidential.
What do you think of its summary?
