1. Social Media Ethics
Consider everything public. Even though social-networking sites generally allow you some
control over who sees your contributions, you should regard everything you post online as
public. Some of your “friends” could pass along what you have posted. Once you post anything
even to a closed network, you lose control of it.
Consider everything signed. Much of the social-networking world operates with some level
of anonymity. Journalists should consider the ethics of operating anonymously. The best
advice is to operate transparently, either using your real name or, if you use a screen name
(your real name may not be available as a screen name if you have a common name), identify
yourself by name in your user profile. If there’s any chance you might use a social-networking
platform professionally, it’s best to identify yourself, your publication and your position
candidly. Even if you use a screen name on your own site or in commenting on someone else’s
site, presume that someone sometime might connect that comment with your actual name.
And keep that in mind when you do comment. If you do use a screen name, especially if you
don’t identify yourself fully in a user profile, check with your editor and discuss whether your
approach is appropriate.
Consider everything to be bogus. Some people use fake names on social networks. Some
people use fictional profiles. Some people will make exaggerated or false claims or
accusations. Some people will pass along unsubstantiated rumors. You will find valuable
information on social networks, but it won’t always be easily distinguished from the lies,
mischief and misinformation. Use the social network as a starting point in your reporting, but
be sure to verify and attribute.
Consider whether opinions are appropriate. Discuss with your editors (or with your staff if
you are an editor) what kind of statements of opinion, if any, are appropriate for you to make
on social-networking sites. If you cover government, you might be free to express your
support (or disdain) for a sports team and to praise or rip entertainers. But opinions about
government officials or issues might be inappropriate. Or your editors may prefer staff
members to refrain from expressing online opinions at all. On the other hand, a columnist
might be welcome to express opinions as freely in social networks as in print. Opinions are not
a one-size-fits-all situation. But make sure that editors and staff are agreed about what’s
appropriate for each situation, or whether a single policy covers everyone on your staff.
Consider whether internal matters are appropriate for discussion. On Facebook,
Twitter and personal blogs, many people discuss the everyday matters of their work life. Some
of the routine of your work might venture into ethical areas, though. If you are blogging or
Twittering through your reporting process, be careful not to write about matters you might
later need to discuss with editors, such as whether to identify a juvenile offender or a crime
victim. Be careful not to disclose something that might violate a confidentiality agreement with
a source (which you can do without naming names). Don’t treat even a closed online group as
something for a confidential exchange that should be handled by email, telephone or personal
discussion.
Consider separate personal and professional pages. If you want to conduct truly
personal social networking, consider maintaining a personal profile separate from your
professional profile. Then you can do your reporting from one platform and pursue your

2. hobbies or entertainment or sports interests separately from your professional work. Be sure
to confer with your editor (or give some guidance to your staff) about this. For some issues
and some situations, personal comments may reflect on your work, even if you do maintain
separate pages. On the other hand, many people in the social networking world, mix personal
and professional, so you should discuss whether it’s appropriate to do that so you can better
understand how social networking works. Whichever approach you decide is correct for you or
whichever approach your organization takes, understand that what you say in a personal
social networking profile or feed will still reflect on you professionally. The best advice is to act
professionally in social networks, even when you are using them personally.
Issues with specific social networks
Linking or bookmarking networks. Sites such as Digg, Delicious and Reddit are valuable
for showcasing your own stories and blogs or for linking to valuable resources related to your
beat or for other stories or resources that can add depth to your own stories. However,
consider whether you have responsibility for material that you highlight through these sites. If
you highlight partisan sites or commentary expressing strong opinions, could your Diggs or
your bookmarks compromise your neutrality on your beat? Do balance and fairness come into
play here? If you link to competing partisan sites, does the balance make it acceptable where
linking to one side’s site would be unfair? What about linking to a site making some allegations
about a person, agency or company? Is that OK? If not, would it be acceptable if you also link
to sites where the person or company presents its position? What responsibility, if any, do you
bear for the accuracy of sites that you link to? Do you need to verify the information if you
might be sending people to that site, just as you would verify the information in a story? If
you don’t have to verify, do you need to point out any inaccuracies that you know of? What
guidelines should you follow in comments you make about your links?
Photo or video networks. Social-networking platforms such as Flickr, Twitpic and YouTube
are popular and fun. And they can provide timely content for your news site. But you need to
consider lots of issues: You can link to content anywhere on the Internet, but if you want to
embed photos or videos on your site, be sure to request and receive permission first. Keep in
mind also that you don’t know the context of the photos or videos you find on sharing sites.
Consider whether something might have been staged or re-created in a way that would not be
acceptable for your staff. Might someone have altered digital content in a way that would be
unethical for a photojournalist? How can you know whether the people sharing the photos or
videos follow your standards for identifying people pictured or for verification of facts? How
can you know whether the people sharing the photos or videos have any conflicts of interests
that raise questions about the legitimacy of the images they present? How do you know (and
does it matter?) that the people sharing photos or videos are identifying themselves
accurately?
Facebook or MySpace. Facebook and MySpace can be valuable reporting tools. They also
can present ethical dilemmas for journalists. Many users proclaim their opinions and
affiliations on these social-networking sites, but journalists should be sure to check with their
editors before doing so. Reporters might want to join some groups that deal with topics or
issues on your beat, but be sure to check with your editor first because joining some
particularly partisan groups could present a conflict of interests. And be careful when you use

3. Facebook for reporting. You want to verify identity any information independently where you
can. And be sure to attribute appropriately when you use something from Facebook, especially
if you haven’t been able to verify. Because Facebook and MySpace offer blogging, linking and
photo-sharing opportunities, they present all the same issues described above and in a
separate Upholding and Updating Ethical Standards handout on blogging.
Twitter. If you mix professional and personal communication on Twitter, check with your
editor to make sure that is OK at your organization. If your editor is not comfortable, discuss
whether separate personal or professional Twitter accounts would be acceptable. Also discuss
whether expressions of opinion about events you cover are acceptable (if you might be
inclined to state opinions). Consider what your choice of people you follow might tell readers
or sources about your interests and opinions. (Editors should discuss these issues with their
staffs and know how staff members are using Twitter.)
Professional networking sites. You can find helpful professional connections and support at
professional networking sites such as Wired Journalists or networks of beat organizations.
Here you generally don’t need to worry about conflicts of interests. But don’t let the
camaraderie and candor of the discussions lure you into inappropriate statements of opinion or
bias that might be visible to your readers or sources.
Local social networks. Your web site or other local sites might provide some local social
networking opportunities. While these networks might connect you to sources and provide
tips, be sure to verify the sources and information you collect on the social networks. And
keep in mind that some of the people reading your own contributions may be your sources
and readers.