ASNE - A staffer has found his own Internet sights

What would you do?

Pornography example demonstrates the importance of newsroom policies on staff online usage; harassment issues exist for many sites

The wealth of information now available on the Internet has become a valuable research tool for reporters. Most newspapers have Internet access available for writers and most editors are encouraging their reporters to employ this resource.

But what happens when a staffer misuses this source of information? As useful as the Internet can be, it offers a multitude of opportunities for exploitation.

This time, Bruce Kyse, executive editor of the Santa Rosa (Calif.) Press Democrat, and Joe Distelheim, editor of the Huntsville (Ala.) Times, tackle the issue.

Joe Distelheim

Here's one more way that The American Editor serves editors: The query made me realize that the Times needs a formal policy governing personal use of the Internet from the newsroom's computers.

That policy will say that those computers are for work-related uses, not personal use.

While we want to encourage staffers to become adept in the use of the Internet, we're paying for that Internet access and we're paying news staff salaries for business, not recreational reasons.

Depending on the specifics, which aren't given here, this case might also raise sexual harassment issues. A written policy at the Times strictly forbids sexual harassment. If that's an element here, we're equipped to deal with it with steps up to and including dismissal.

Bruce Kyse

First, you may need to contact the Supreme Court and get a specific and iron-clad definition of pornography. Second, use that definition to apply the sword of justice to the violator of your newspaper's zero-tolerance pornography policy, taking no prisoners.

Or you might consider a second option. Assuming that the pornographic material in question was not actually research for an assigned story, you might ask a few questions:

Does your newspaper have a clear policy prohibiting the use of computers for material that is either illegal or offensive? Such a policy may be useful in setting general guidelines on accessing questionable Web sites.
What's the nature of the pornographic material in question? Pornography is a concept, not an absolute. As managers, we need to consider the illicit material itself and use some judgment.
Did the pornographic material actually offend someone in the room? This may be the strongest case for disciplinary action against an employee based on existing sexual harassment policies.
Do you encourage your employees to use the Internet? Surfing the Web can be fraught with surprises. I've unwittingly linked to some smutty sites during my Web journeys. (I didn't stay long, honest.) Heaven forbid the pornography police walk by my desk at just the wrong moment.

Silverberg is executive editor of the Florence (Ala.) TimesDaily. Mail your quandary to P.O. Box 797, Florence, AL 35631 or e-mail it to timesdly@timesdaily.com.