social media © ROBERT WILKINSON / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO


even outside work is said to reflect on those who employ us. Research by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and


Development revealed that 38 per cent of employers look up candidates online compared to just 16 per cent of workers researching bosses. Few employers routinely inform candidates of this practice but, of those using social media to screen job candidates, eight per cent said they had rejected candidates as a result. CIPD’s Katie Flynn said: “Although employers using social media to research candidates isn’t necessarily unlawful, it’s important to balance the employer’s interests with those of individuals, and employers need to be cautious about how they use social media in this way. Information on the internet is not necessarily accurate and it would be good practice for a prospective employer to give an individual the opportunity to respond to any information it has obtained from social media. It’s also important that employers intending to use social media to research a candidate’s background should make this clear during the recruitment process if they are to avoid potential legal challenge.” The ACAS advice adds: “While many employees see social media as a channel for free speech, most employers feel the need to supervise what is said about the organisation. However, if an employer is overly proscriptive about the use of social media channels, it can be viewed as trying to gag employees from expressing personal views.” Is this something journalists have to live with? Snowden


says: “Nothing much has changed – it’s just that there are more ways for our private selves to be revealed than in the past.” Nevertheless, for now at least, any reporter living up to the stereotype of an opinionated, heavy drinker who swears like a trooper might have to keep that behaviour in the newsroom or the pub, or risk damaging their brand and their career.


Private, public and professional


The NUJ’s advisory guidelines on using social media were drawn up by the New Media Industrial Council. As a journalist, your use


of social networking sites can affect your future work or employment. What you write, or when you write it, can cause employers concern. What you say could be interpreted as your company’s point of view, and it may seek to distance itself from such remarks by taking disciplinary action against you. When using social


media, you should: • Make clear on all


personal accounts that you are speaking for yourself. • Don’t mention the


name of your employer on any personal profiles. • Use personal email


addresses to manage any personal profiles. • Make your personal


profiles private and viewable only to friends and only “friend” people you know and trust personally. • Be aware that you are


personally responsible for content you publish on social media sites, so: show respect for others; avoid personal slurs; consider other people’s privacy and do not use


social media sites to access or share illegal content. • Consider running a


separate “business only” or “professional” account for your journalistic profile and work. • Be aware that the lists


of friends or followers you acquire on work- related accounts may be considered the property of the company. This list is by no means


exhaustive nor does it contain legal advice. It should, however, go some way in helping maintain a good balance between your public and private lives and your right to personal expression.


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