The new blogging guidelines are out (now officially called “Self Publishing and Self Expression on the Internet” cause, you know, it’s snappier ) and while the document takes a friendlier tone, CBC journalists still require their supervisor’s permission to maintain a personal blog, post a comment on someone else’s blog or Facebook.

The restriction, though, is simply an extension of existing Code of Ethics policies.

The new guidelines say:

“…Journalists must get permission for all outside freelance and journalistic work, including written articles for self-publication or blogs….

If you work in News and Current Affairs, in particular, in addition to seeking the permission of your supervisor, you should also ensure that nothing that you are self-publishing or expressing during the course of such activities risks undermining the integrity or impartiality of CBC/Radio-Canada’s News divisions.”

The original document which was distributed to some news staff (later said to have just been a draft for discussion) required the permission of workers’ bosses to have or even maintain an existing personal blog. This was to apply to all employees, not just those involved in news.

While written in a simpler, less punitive voice, the document still occasionally lapses into CorpSpeak:

Self-publishing activities and self-expression on the Internet should also be done in a way that respects our policy on Corporate Information Technology (IT) Security and Employee Use of IT Assets. For example, “Employees are provided with access to CBC/Radio-Canada IT Assets for business use and for the purpose of performing job-related activities. Although some limited personal use will be tolerated, it is subject to this Policy and must not interfere with or detract from employees’ assigned tasks.” In this respect, all such activities should be done on an employee’s own time, using a personal computer and personal e-mail address.

(Would it have killed them to just say: “Remember that while it’s fine to use your workstation computer for infrequent personal tasks, please use your own home computer and personal email address for most of your blogging and other personal uses.”?!)

The full guidelines are after the jump.

So, what do you think?

Self-publishing and self-expression on the Internet

The Internet has become an integral part of many people’s lives. The popularity of self-publishing and social networking media (e.g.: blogging, podcasting, Facebook, etc.) is increasing, and CBC/Radio-Canada employees may choose to take part in these latest media for self-expression and public conversation.

This note responds to employee requests for clarification of the Corporation’s attitude with respect to self-publishing and self-expression on the Internet (personal blogging, etc.) and is not intended to discourage employees from doing so. Rather, the intent is to shed some light on the line between you, the individual and you, the CBC/Radio-Canada employee.

Application and scope of guidelines

The guidelines deal with such things as personal blogging, participation in others’ blogs, and other self-publishing activities, such as podcasting. These guidelines might also offer you useful food for thought in the context of participation in social networking such as Facebook.

The guidelines apply when content clearly identifies the originator, or allows him or her to be obviously identified, as a CBC/Radio-Canada employee. Generally, self-published content or self-expression that does not identify the originator as a CBC/Radio-Canada employee, does not discuss CBC/Radio-Canada business and is essentially personal in nature, falls outside the scope of these guidelines. Similarly, program-specific blogs, as well as other “official” CBC/Radio-Canada publications or public commentary, are not addressed here.

Guidelines

- If your self-publishing activity (e.g.: blog, podcast, etc.) on the Internet clearly identifies you as a CBC/Radio-Canada employee, or makes it obvious that you are an employee of CBC/Radio-Canada, you should act in a way that reflects CBC/Radio-Canada’s values and policies. For example, you should not attack or abuse colleagues, or infringe on their privacy.

- You should be mindful of, and respect all relevant Human Resources and other corporate policies, since they apply to self-publishing and other similar activities in the normal course. In particular, you should be familiar with the following policies: Conflict of Interest and Ethics and the Code of Conduct, and other similar sections contained within the journalistic policies, including those that deal with Outside Work, Advocacy and Opinion, and Confidential Information, when and as they apply to you specifically. So, for example, journalists must get permission for all outside freelance and journalistic work, including written articles for self-publication or blogs.

- Self-publishing activities and self-expression on the Internet should also be done in a way that respects our policy on Corporate Information Technology (IT) Security and Employee Use of IT Assets. For example, “Employees are provided with access to CBC/Radio-Canada IT Assets for business use and for the purpose of performing job-related activities. Although some limited personal use will be tolerated, it is subject to this Policy and must not interfere with or detract from employees’ assigned tasks.” In this respect, all such activities should be done on an employee’s own time, using a personal computer and personal e-mail address.

- If you are identifying yourself as a CBC/Radio-Canada employee in the course of such activities (e.g.: posting on your own blog or on a third party’s), you should not advocate for a group or a cause, or express partisan political opinion. You should also avoid subjects that could bring CBC/Radio-Canada into disrepute. Similarly, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to include a disclaimer to the effect of: “the views expressed here are my own and not those of CBC/Radio-Canada.”

- If you work in News and Current Affairs, in particular, in addition to seeking the permission of your supervisor, you should also ensure that nothing that you are self-publishing or expressing during the course of such activities risks undermining the integrity or impartiality of CBC/Radio-Canada’s News divisions.

- CBC/Radio-Canada material such as pre-interviews, interviews, research, etc., created or developed while doing your job, is the property of CBC/Radio-Canada and cannot be used for personal purposes.

- “The CBC Blogging Manifesto” that is referred to on Inside the CBC, the official blog of the Corporation, and elsewhere on the Web, is not corporate policy or guideline. It was devised and adopted independently by a number of prominent employee bloggers. While not formally sanctioned, it nonetheless offers good advice to those wishing to blog about CBC/Radio-Canada, or to those wishing to carry out any similar self-publishing activity.

If you have doubt or uncertainty about any of this, you are encouraged to have a conversation with your manager to clear it up.

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