Twitter Also Causes Problems for the Washington Post

By Taylor Finch

Last Friday, a memo was sent out to the Washington Post staff, by its senior editor Milton Coleman, warning them of a new policy dealing with their use of "individual accounts on online social networks, when used for reporting and for personal use," with emphasis on Twitter.

The reason for this stems from reporters and other staff members wanting to gain superiority due to reporting news first and in real time. Social networks are seemingly becoming a journalists only hope for job stability, and these new regulations are what could become the end for many of these hopes.

These specific regulations stated that employees of the Washington Post should "keep their opinions to themselves at all times." They are not allowed to post anything that would "tarnish [their] journalistic credibility."

The reaction to these new policies were very negative across the Web, including a comment from Stephen Bakerat, of Business Week, that stated that "he needs social media, because if his publications's ship goes down, he doesn't want to go with it."

It may be difficult for all news outlets to keep tabs on all of the news that goes out publicly on the Web, but using social media, such as Twitter, is something that journalists and reporters alike believe will help to build their affiliate's authority within the news world, as well as help them to keep their jobs.

(Photo by: Franc Podgoršek)

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Two Broadcasters Shut Down in Honduras

By Brianna Carlson

Two broadcasters, Channel 36 and Radio Globo, were shut down indefinitely today in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

To show support towards Manuel Zelaya, the two stations had provoked an open revolt against the government. The president of Honduras, Zelaya, was forced to leave office which caused this revolt.

Police agents and soilders made a barricade around the headquarters of the television and radio stations trying to prevent the start of any political march or protest. Both sides of the street were also blocked off.

Government officals said unauthorized public meetings in order of supporting Zelaya were prohibited, and the police were allowed to arrest anyone the seemed to be a threat.

Zelaya was removed from the country three months ago. He was living at the Brazilian Embassy with about 65 family members, supporters and journalists. Last Monday, he secretly came back to Honduras.

(Photo Credit: Wikimedia)

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