After Guido revealed anti-UKIP outbursts from senior BBC staff, the head of the BBC newsroom, Mary Hockaday, has emailed all Beeboids telling them to keep schtum online:
From: Mary Hockaday
Sent: 22 May 2014 15:59
To: Newsroom-Wider Management
Subject: Social mediaA reminder that we have well established and very clear social media guidance that applies to all staff in news. It’s in the attached PDF and also here: http://bbc.in/1kZVjPk
Social media is now a vital part of our work, allowing us to get our journalism to new audiences, connect with people, and gather news as it happens.
But the guidance is clear when it comes to personal activity: “As a BBC member of staff – and especially as someone who works in News – there are particular considerations to bear in mind. They can all be summarised as: ‘Don’t do anything stupid’.”
I’d also specifically draw your attention to the following section: “You shouldn’t state your political preferences or say anything that compromises your impartiality. Don’t sound off about things in an openly partisan way. Don’t be seduced by the informality of social media into bringing the BBC into disrepute.”
Thank you, Mary
A bit late now the votes have actually been cast and the tweets already sent.
