Last but not least: Twitter off - and cut!
An SRF employee commented on a politician's candidacy on Twitter with «Bravo!» To the SRF editor-in-chief, this was apparently so incredibly inappropriate that he reprimanded the journalist.
Diego Yanes writes in an internal memo: . "In doing so, he is openly and publicly expressing sympathy for this politician". According to NZZ am Sonntag, he describes the tweet as a "mistake" and criticizes the "careless use" of social networks. Twitter is not a "happy dinner among friends"; anyone who communicates via social networks becomes public, Yanez continues. "Our house in particular is under constant scrutiny like no other." Anyone who makes such statements on Twitter is damaging SRF. In future, any employee who makes missteps on Twitter or Facebook will be reprimanded in writing. According to a "well-informed source" of the NZZ am Sonntag, the employee in question has also been reprimanded.
A reprimand that appears in the personnel file and, if repeated, could possibly be interpreted as a threat of dismissal: Is that really appropriate for a shy "Bravo!", an expression of sympathy for a politician in your free time?
With reference to the journalistic guidelines, which every employee undertakes to adhere to when signing their employment contract, SRF refers to the following aspect in this context: When expressing opinions on the Internet, care must be taken to ensure that the credibility of SRF journalists is maintained. "In addition, our employees have been informed internally on several occasions that social media are never just private and that the journalistic guidelines also apply there," writes SRF media spokesperson Stefan Wyss according to NZZ am Sonntag.
Even if SRF is concerned about preserving or neutralizing the image of its employees: Is the journalist in question no longer in a position to report neutrally or to clearly state his political opinion in an article because of a "Bravo!" about a politician's candidacy? (uma)
Teaser image: Nzz.ch
