Guild Asks AP to Rescind Controversial Social Media Rules

By: Joe Strupp The News Media Guild, which represents some 1,500 Associated Press employees, has formally asked the news organization to rescind controversial social media rules it instituted last month.

A note to members posted on the union's Web site today by Guild Administrator Kevin Keane declares: "The request was sparked by new rules posted by AP on June 18, including a requirement that employees delete the comments of friends that could run afoul of AP's Ethics Policy. The new rules angered many employees who believe they're intrusive and unbecoming of a news agency that promotes free speech."

The rules were first reported by E&P on June 23. Among the concerns raised by Keane then were the requirements that comments by "friends" of AP employees on their Facebook pages be monitored and removed if they do no conform to AP standards.

Keane's notice today also cited union opposition to an AP proposal to eliminate the acceptance of any gifts, no matter how small, by news employees. The proposal has been the subject of current contract negotiations, Keane's notice said.

AP Spokesman Jack Stokes responded to the union move with this statement to E&P: "The social networking guidelines were requested by a number of staffers and are not at variance with our longstanding Statement of News Values and Principles."

The entire union bulletin can be seen below and on the guild's Web site.

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Guild presses for Facebook fairness

08 Jul 2009

The News Media Guild asked The Associated Press to rescind its new Facebook, Twitter and MySpace rules to allow for good faith bargaining under the National Labor Relations Act.

The request was sparked by new rules posted by AP on June 18, including a requirement that employees delete the comments of friends that could run afoul of AP's Ethics Policy. The new rules angered many employees who believe they're intrusive and unbecoming of a news agency that promotes free speech.

"It's regrettable that a news agency that promotes free speech and media freedom is attempting to chill speech by its own staff," said Tony Winton, NMG president.

The union believes it is not compelled to meet and discuss new Ethics Policy rules during the life of the contract because they were fully bargained during the negotiations, except for the gifts and the staging photo portions. It is willing to meet with AP on these matters in an effort to reach agreement without prejudice to that position.

The union wants to resume discussions on AP's proposed changes to its "gifts" policies in which the company says employees may not accept trinkets offered by sources, public relations agencies, corporations and others. Whether the gifts are modest or substantial, they must be turned down or given to charity. The policy now says gifts can be kept if they are of nominal value of $25 or less.

The company said it needs the stringent policy so employees will no longer be burdened with determining if the gift is worth $23 or $27. The union proposed that the language be changed to "about $25," to address the company's concern.

Some employees found the policy insulting, saying coverage is not influenced by unsolicited books, Planters nuts, pens and gifts from political conventions or major sporting events. One employee said AP itself gives out gifts. Others found the timing of the new policing disconcerting as AP announced the need to cut staff costs by 10 percent.

The union told AP that some portions of its policy violate employees Section 7 rights under the National Labor Relations Act. The law, which protects concerted activity, is expressly recognized in the negotiated ethics policy.

The new company rules say employees cannot include discussions about AP personnel, policies or operations in their web sites or blogs. It adds that co-workers must be identified by name and that their permission must be obtained prior to posting of video, photographic or graphic form. It adds that material must be removed if requested.

"Guild activities can include images of members and the level of control exerted by AP over their protected activities through its proposed policy is unlawful, " Winton said. He added that the NLRA protects activities such as talking about AP personnel, policies or operations on Web sites or blogs.

The union wants AP to report on its "whistleblower" policy under which employees can report inappropriate activities in the company's news or business activities to the "Ethics Point" integrity hot line. The union said it wanted copies of all contacts to date with any company responses understanding the need to redact some information to protect the confidentiality of those involved.