Breach of ethics or not?

So a friend and former colleague took a picture of the next day's A1 and posted it on his friend's Facebook page because a story about the town supporting her work as an artist will appear above the fold.

Seemed to me to like this is a breach of ethics, or at least etiquette, to do so via his personal social media. If the newspaper wanted to preview its front page, I'm assuming it would have done so via its official social media pages. I feel like it puts the reporter in a bad light, in that it gives the appearance that her story is being printed (stripped across the top of A1, no less) because of their personal acquaintance, rather than for news value.

So what say you, oh, protectors of the Shield fishwrap?

 

Absolutely nothing unethical, or even unprofessional, about it.

 

No problem with this whatsoever unless the paper had some kind of breaking news it was trying to keep quiet.

 

Start stacking those digital dimes 12 hours early?

 

No issue at all, unless as Recovering said, there was a scoop they were trying to keep quiet. But, even then, doesn't this scream "We had it first!"

I do similar things often when we have a special section to drum up interest and seeing how my boss (and his boss) have retweeted me doing it in the past....

 

One of the rags around here has a relative taking sports pics -- of her relatives, leaving when they are finished competing. Also takes pics and runs stories of another relative, who I guess is a bigwig in town.

And their other child -- the intern? He wrote a feature story on ... himself.

This pales in comparison to the shit I've seen.

 

Why wasn't the story online already?

 

That is great. Reminds me of Piper's Pit when Roddy interviewed the greatest ever

http://www.popscreen.com/v/7zgYU/Rowdy-Roddy-Piper-Interviews-Himself

 

If it's a personal page, it's no big deal. No different than him telling the person over the phone.
Personal Facebook pages aren't "social media." I hate when they get described like that. My personal Facebook is a place for friends and family to see pics of my kids and hear me bitch. If you're not friends with me, there's no access. It's designed that way.
If this guy's page is the same way, there's nothing wrong here.

 

Disagree on the idea that personal pages aren't "social media." They absolutely are and many reporters have been fired for things they've posted on their "personal" pages. Like it or not, reporters don't get the privilege of a "personal" page.

And it's certainly different than a phone call. You can't possibly believe that.

That said, I suppose I can come around to the general agreement on this thread that it's not a big deal.

 

Isn't saying Facebook isn't social media if you only share with your family and friends sorta like saying a party isn't a social gathering if you only invite family and friends?

 

Using your personal FB page to answer a question about why your paper does something can blow up in your face in ways you may never have intended, or imagined, so you really should be careful how your personal FB page answers a question as a representative of your paper.