USE OF TWITTER

EXAMPLE AA:: ROYAL WEDDING / RUPERT MURDOCH

Background

Royal Wedding Business Editor Robert Peston has an official BBC account, branded with BBC News logos. On Saturday April 29 th , whilst ‘off-duty’, he sent these tweets during coverage of the Royal Wedding.

Rupert Murdoch Andrew Collins is a music journalist and writer who co-presents a Saturday morning music show on 6Music. He has a personal twitter account which states his BBC connection, but isn’t listed on the 6Music website. He sent this tweet, whilst off-air, when Rupert Murdoch appeared in front of the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee to give evidence on the phone hacking allegations.

Questions

• Consider the use of an official BBC News account for light hearted topical comments and personal opinions beyond the brief of the correspondent. o Are any of these twitter comments on the Royal Wedding acceptable?

o What difference, if any, would it have made if these tweets had come from a BBC correspondent’s personal twitter account?

• Compare the tweets on the Royal Wedding, with the tweet on Rupert Murdoch – what makes it more or less acceptable?

EXAMPLE B: BRITISH AIRWAYS / BOOTS

Background

British Airways These tweets come from an ex-sports professional who is now a broadcaster and journalist. He is not a member of BBC staff, but commentates for the BBC on his sport.

This twitter account was originally set up by the ex-sports pro for his own personal use. However, he frequently talked about his BBC work and so it was turned into an official BBC account. There is no BBC branding on it, but it states "This is an official @BBC Sport account." The twitter account’s home page also contains two links: one to BBC Sport and one to the ex-sports pro’s personal website, which contains his show reel and promotion for a number of commercial interests.

Boots Fearne Cotton is a TV presenter who also hosts the weekday mid- morning show on Radio1. She in not a member of BBC staff and has a personal twitter account which is not listed on the BBC Radio 1 website – although she does sometimes talk about it on her radio show. Fearne Cotton has a number of external commercial interests, including her own make-up range in Boots. A couple of months before it was available in the shops, she sent the following tweet during her show:

Questions

• Consider the acceptability to these tweets. What makes them more or less problematic for the BBC?

EXAMPLE C: GREEN PARTY

Background

Joe Smith has a personal Twitter account which quite clearly states that the opinions are his and his alone. On his profile, he also identifies himself as a BBC World Service journalist. The following tweets were sent during the general election campaign.

Questions

• Consider the tweets on Joe Smith’s personal twitter account. Which ones, if any, are unacceptable?

• If you are concerned by any of the tweets, would they be more acceptable if Joe Smith didn’t report on air and/or he didn’t reveal his connection to the BBC in his twitter account?