Gannett ordered their journalists to not share their personal political opinions after the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to strike down Roe v. Wade, but their new social media policy is under review after severe internal criticism, according to a report on Digiday, a trade magazine for online media.
“All journalists must be mindful of what they post on social media and what they say in public forums,” Gannett said in the memo, which was posted online by a journalist from a different publication. “With an ever-increasing spotlight on our work, readers turn to us for unbiased coverage. We must protect that trust.”
The media chain, which owns nine daily newspapers in New Jersey, also reminder their reporters that they “cannot use social media to take a political position, criticize or attack a candidate, or express personal feelings about an outcome or ruling.”
“If you notice a newsroom colleague posting inappropriate comments, immediately alert your supervisor,” the memo said.
The policy comes weeks after Gannett announced that it was dramatically reducing their editorial sections because opinion pages are alienating reader, citing evidence that opinion journalism is becoming obsolete and not attracting page views.