ESPN puts forth harsh Internet policy

[Stay Thirsty My Friends]

Forgive me if this has been posted elsewhere, but ...

ESPN'S ADDITIONAL GUIDELINES FOR SOCIAL NETWORKING
ESPN regards social networks such as message boards, conversation pages and other forms of social networking such as Facebook and Twitter as important new forms of content. As such, we expect to hold all talent who participate in social networking to the same standards we hold for interaction with our audiences across TV, radio and our digital platforms. This applies to all ESPN Talent, anchors, play by play, hosts, analysts, commentators, reporters and writers who participate in any form of personal social networking that contain sports related content.
ESPN Digital Media is currently building and testing modules designed to publish Twitter and Facebook entries simultaneously on ESPN.com, SportsCenter.com, Page 2, ESPN Profile pages and other similar pages across our web site and mobile platforms. The plan is to fully deploy these modules this fall.
Specific Guidelines
· Personal websites and blogs that contain sports content are not permitted
· Prior to engaging in any form of social networking dealing with sports, you must receive permission from the supervisor as appointed by your department head
· ESPN.COM may choose to post sports related social media content
· If ESPN.com opts not to post sports related social media content created by ESPN talent, you are not permitted to report, speculate, discuss or give any opinions on sports related topics or personalities on your personal platforms
· The first and only priority is to serve ESPN sanctioned efforts, including sports news, information and content
Assume at all times you are representing ESPN
If you wouldn't say it on the air or write it in your column, don't tweet it
Exercise discretion, thoughtfulness and respect for your colleagues, business associates and our fans
· Avoid discussing internal policies or detailing how a story or feature was reported, written, edited or produced and discussing stories or features in progress, those that haven't been posted or produced, interviews you've conducted, or any future coverage plans.
· Steer clear of engaging in dialogue that defends your work against those who challenge it and do not engage in media criticism or disparage colleagues or competitors
· Be mindful that all posted content is subject to review in accordance with ESPN's employee policies and editorial guidelines
· Confidential or proprietary company information or similar information of third parties who have shared such information with ESPN, should not be shared
Any violation of these guidelines could result in a range of consequences, including but not limited to suspension or dismissal.

I'm guessing sites such as this are included in this new policy, though I could be wrong.

[Armchair_QB]

So I guess that'll cut into the tweets I get from Joe Schad.

[21]

So, hm, what would that mean for espners who, say, post on SJ?

[PopeDirkBenedict]

Outing alert: 21 is Six Toes Cohn.

[dooley_womack1]

So they're treating it like freelancing while you're on a newspaper payroll. Draconian restrictions, and it's not quite the same, since it's not something you're being paid to do. But it is putting out sports viewpoint while you're on the ESPN dime

[da man]

Assume at all times you are representing ESPN
If you wouldn't say it on the air or write it in your column, don't tweet it


This is tremendous advice for any writer, reporter, columnist, TV anchor, radio host, etc. Just fill in name of your media outlet in place of ESPN.

[21]

Outing alert: 21 is Six Toes Cohn.

I'm embarrassed to tell you how long it took me to get that.

I agree with 'da man' (I'm sorry, that looked weird without quotes), and will make the general assumption that we won't be seeing many/any espn folks posting under their own names on this site.

[dooley_womack1]

Someone could cause some real sock-puppetry mischief.

[Elliotte Friedman]

Earlier today, Jemele Hill and Chad Johnson were twittering/tweeting about interracial dating. From what I saw, Johnson was against it and she was promoting his U-Stream about it, nothing more. (Although, I thought the exchange was so stupid and mind-numbing that I ignored it after a bit.)

This memo was probably in the works before that exchange, but it may not be a coincidence it came out today.

[SixToe]

Outing alert: 21 is Six Toes Cohn

Damn. We've been outed.

[dooley_womack1]

Earlier today, Jemele Hill and Chad Johnson were twittering/tweeting about interracial dating. From what I saw, Johnson was against it and she was promoting his U-Stream about it, nothing more. (Although, I thought the exchange was so stupid and mind-numbing that I ignored it after a bit.)

This memo was probably in the works before that exchange, but it may not be a coincidence it came out today.

Could have been worse.

[slappy4428]

So I guess that'll cut into the tweets I get from Joe Schad.

Nothing wrong with cutting back to an even two dozen a day.

So, hm, what would that mean for espners who, say, post on SJ?

I can think of one here who rarely posts about sports, so they're good... I am so going to burn in hell...

[SixToe]

Assume at all times you are representing ESPN. If you wouldn't say it on the air or write it in your column, don't tweet it

Isn't this what has been discussed repeatedly about blogs (BLOGS!) and the Interwebs with newspapers? Be professional? Don't post things online that would harm credibility or the brand?

[CitizenTino]

Well, here's one person who thinks this is a bit much ...

http://mashable.com/2009/08/04/espn-twitter/

And, I know Simmons gets hated on by many on this board, but I thought his reaction to Ric Bucher spilling the beans about this was pretty funny. Via Twitter:

sportsguy33 A clip from Robert DeNiro's upcoming movie, "The Ric Bucher Story." http://tinyurl.com/c3rm7u

[imjustagirl]

I can think of one here who rarely posts about sports, so they're good... I am so going to burn in hell...

The policy applies to writers.

[SockPuppet]

The genesis (blame?) for this ESPN memo/ban is a Tweet duel between NFL analyst Mark Schlereth and OchoCinco of the Bengals. Kinda like Monty Python's classic Twit Of The Year olympics.

[GlenQuagmire]

I'm not surprised that Ms. Hill has something to do with this happening. (I say that fully believing that such a policy is a good thing for everyone in the media industry.) Not a big fan of her, her writing or ESPN. Big shocker!

[Simon_Cowbell]

Assume at all times you are representing ESPN. If you wouldn't say it on the air or write it in your column, don't tweet it

Isn't this what has been discussed repeatedly about blogs (BLOGS!) and the Interwebs with newspapers? Be professional? Don't post things online that would harm credibility or the brand?

That was the key line, indeed.

[Boom_70]

Ahh - now the reason is clear why some noted ESPNers no longer post here at SJ.

[Xanadu]

When did Hitler take over ESPN?

[Mediator]

There has to be room however for a writer to be a human, kind of a virtual lounge to unwind in. If you don't talk sports on your Facebook page, would you have to still be representing your outlet? We aren't our work persona all the time... (I am not suggesting that anyone post photos of themselves naked with a beer bong...)

[BTExpress]

From what I saw, Johnson was against it and she was promoting his U-Stream about it.

Tyrannosaurus BTExpress has no idea what this means.

[Boom_70]

When did Hitler take over ESPN?

He didn't but Captain Queeg did.

[EE94]

When did Hitler take over ESPN?

He didn't but Captain Queeg did.

Didn't he tweet about his missing strawberries?

[Xanadu]

I've heard of places like this. China and North Korea come to mind.