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Global TV news channels like Sky News, BBC World News and Al Jazeera all have good advice for people like the now-suspended eNCA (DStv 403) reporter Lance Witten who foolishly and arrogantly doesn't seem to know how to properly use social media and brought shame and embarrassement to the South African 24-hour news channel who he represents.
Lance Witten who is a TV face on the eNCA, broadcast incredibly insensitive tweets this past week after a woman tragically died at a Linkin Park rock concert in Cape Town.
He seemed unaware of the eNCA policy for social media use for its reporters, or blatantly flouting it, or was just not using the common sense viewers expect from a TV reporter. Lance Witten's puerile messages sparked a firestorm which saw him immediately getting suspended by livid eNCA bosses.
In the Royal Television Society Lecture broadcast on BBC World News (DStv 400 / TopTV 400) in South Africa over the weekend, global TV news channels all spoke about their own social media policies and their social media rules for their reporters.
Allof these 24-hour TV news channels have ground rules for social media messages to prevent their TV reporters from suffering public humiliation and embarrassement like Lance Witten and the eNCA.
All these TV news channels have great advice for the eNCA and people like Lance Witten who appear clueless about the fact that their social media comments are actually a form of broadcasting to the world and are constantly reflecting back on the credibility and image of the news organisations they work for.
"We ask staff not to talk about their political opinion and to not be a partisan; not to be critical of colleagues and to not reveal confidential information. In terms of breaking news we ask our staff to file it and tweet it at least at the same time," says Chris Hamilton, the head of social media at BBC News. "Our aim is to be as encouraging and as open as possible."
"Simplified: Don't be stupid!" says Riyaad Minty, the head of social media at A Jazeera.
"Exercise common sense," says Miranda Richardson, social media producer at Sky News.
"Think twice before pressing Tweet," says Cathy Newman, a presenter at Channel 4 News in Britain.
"Keep clear lanes between personal use and professional use," says Alan Fisher, senior US correspondent for Al Jazeera.
"What people wouldn't say on screen, they really shouldn't be saying on Facebook or Twitter," says Anna Doble, the head of online at Channel 4 News.
