BBC and Sky News issue new rules regarding Twitter use
Sky and BBC release social media policies with new guidance on how their journalists can tweet.
Sky News clamps down on Twitter use | Media | guardian.co.ukJosh Halliday · guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 7 February 2012 19.34 GMT; Article history ... Sky News reporters used Twitter to bring breakin...- Some responses to Sky's policy:
- Two important points in the Sky policy:
"So, to reiterate, don't tweet when it is not a story to which you have been assigned or a beat which you work..."
"Do not retweet information posted by other journalists or people on Twitter. Such information could be wrong and has not been through theSky News editorial process."
- One of Sky's most well known Tweeters is Neal Mann, who goes by @fieldproducer on Twitter. Many were worried this would prevent Neal from doing what he does best, getting the word out about big stories on Twitter with a great deal of care and accuracy.
Absurd SKY News ban on RT'ing "rival journalists or people on Twitter" tinyurl.com/79x9uj2 #savefieldproducer
Dear Sky News: Please don't shackle @fieldproducer on Twitter. He's one of the best assets you've got. Trust his judgment. Love, Twitter.
@nytjim Turn on mobile tonight to #freefieldproducer. What's up with our hero @fieldproducer ? #wontbeabletosleepuntilIseehis'goodmorning'
1/2: Imagine… BBCjourno witnesses breaking news. Can’t tweet it. Texts news to friend. Friend tweets… (more) #adaptordie #freefieldproducer- 2/2: … (cont) Skyjourno reads this. Can’t retweet. News has broken. Neither organization has it out yet. #adaptordie #freefieldproducer
- Even singer Lily Allen chimed in with her concern for Neal in light of the policy change:
Lily Allen is following the Sky News social policy changesTell people that their voices were heard, help your story go viral You've been quoted in my @Storify story: "Lily Allen is following the ...- The BBC updated their policy one day later
Don't break stories on Twitter, BBC journalists toldBBC journalists have been told not to break news stories on Twitter before they tell their newsroom colleagues. The new rules, which appl...- Chris Hamilton, BBC's social media editor blogged about his company's new policy:
"When they [BBC journalists] have some breaking news, an exclusive or any kind of urgent update on a story, they must get written copy into our newsroom system as quickly as possible, so that it can be seen and shared by everyone - both the news desks which deploy our staff and resources (like TV trucks) as well as television, radio and online production teams..."
"We prize the increasing value of Twitter ... But we've been clear that our first priority remains ensuring that important information reaches BBC colleagues, and thus all our audiences, as quickly as possible - and certainly not after it reaches Twitter."
- Chris reached out to me on Twitter and said that the BBC is not telling journalists they can't break stories on Twitter:
@AntDeRosa We're not saying BBC journalists can't break stories on Twitter. More here guardian.co.uk/discussion/com…- Stuart Hughes, BBC world affairs producer journalist tweeted that the rules are being misinterpreted and that it does not cripple their newsroom.
Many have misinterpreted this story. We can file copy into @bbcnews system & tweet at same via text or email gu.com/p/35bj8/tw v- Ken Li, Reuters.com editor points out that BBC states they can tweet and text the newsroom simultaneous.
Caught my eye: BBC has tech that allows journalists to transmit text simultaneously to newsroom and to Twitter accounts @AntDeRosa- I wrote my response to the new Sky policy here which includes links to other bloggers reacting to the news.
- What's your reaction to the new policies? Are they too restrictive? Will they put Sky and BBC at a disadvantage? Tweet your reaction and tag it with #tweetrules so I can add your comments to this Storify.
