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Livejournal and the Facebook

Stephanie, 3/8/2005, 8:52:44 AM

We have recently had to deal with reporters using livejournal and the facebook to find sources. I am OK with them searching the facebook to find people to call them, but am not sure how I feel about them making livejournal postings or sending out facebook messages asking people to leave comments or contact them. Have other papers set policies on this?

Responses

Brian Voerding, 3/8/2005, 11:58:06 AM
Interesting. We use the sites like any other online directory to find sources, though we don't leave messages — if there's contact information we use it and if not, we move on or look elsewhere.

Off the cuff, I wouldn't be concerned about reporters leaving brief messages on the sites. The sites are as public as e-mail addresses and phone numbers, and as long as there isn't personal correspondence mixed with simple requests for contact, I don't see a problem.

— Brian Voerding
Editor, Hamline University Oracle
www.hamline.edu/oracle

Adam Crisp (The George-Anne), 5/5/2005, 1:12:06 AM
I don't see a problem with posting on a website asking for people to get in touch with you for further comments. I interned at a mid-sized daily where a lot of reporters used this sort of scenario. However, you shouldn't allow reporters to post questions and let them take the responses and run them in their articles. There is always the risk that the name is fake and that someone is trying to manipulate your reporter. Also, if you have competition in your market (a daily or maybe another student paper) be cautious about broadcasting your story idea for everyone to steal.

--Adam Crisp
The George-Anne
www.stp.georgiasouthern.edu

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