5 messages in org.xml.lists.xml-devRe: [xml-dev] OT: Corporate Blog Poli...
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Chiusano JosephJan 5, 2006 7:52 pm 
harveyJan 5, 2006 8:01 pm 
Jelks CabanissJan 5, 2006 11:16 pm 
bryan rasmussenJan 5, 2006 11:57 pm 
Jim AnconaJan 6, 2006 5:58 am 
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Subject:Re: [xml-dev] OT: Corporate Blog PoliciesActions...
From:bryan rasmussen (rasm@gmail.com)
Date:Jan 5, 2006 11:57:46 pm
List:org.xml.lists.xml-dev

Hi Joe

There was a brouhaha over blogging in my job about a year ago that basically shut down blogging for a bit. The things that led into the big uproar had to do with:

1. An employee's blog was more popular than the official site. There was some concern that the employee's blog was used by people as the filter for official information.

2. The concern stated above was exacerbated by the name of the blog which implied, to some people at least, a strong connection between the blog and the agency concerned.

3. The blog discussed a lot of things that were subjects under discussion internally.

4. Nobody noticed this but me, I saw that there was a lot of usage of the pronoun we in posts which strengthened, in my mind, the connection between the blog and the agency.

5. Somebody claimed that blog posts had been made immediately after meetings discussing the results of meetings. I'm not sure if this actually occurred.

None of these things led to the dismissal of the employee, given that the blog was formed before the rules a propos blogging were laid down.

Cheers, Bryan Rasmussen

On 1/6/06, Chiusano Joseph <chiu@bah.com> wrote:

[If anyone is aware of a fairly recent XML-DEV thread on this topic, please let me know - I did not find one through searching the archives]

Happy New Year All,

The purpose of this message is solicit thoughts/experience/advice regarding corporate policies on blogging. I'll start from the top:

I have long thought about starting a blog, and decided that I would not do so unless I was 100% clear on my company's policy regarding employee blogging. I did some internal research (PR, Legal, etc.), and found out that my company does not yet have any policy on blogging (which is not surprising as we are primarily a consulting firm rather than a vendor).

So I have decided to write my company's blog policy - and then filter it through Legal, PR, and various other internal resources prior to being published.

So my general question is: What are some things that people believe should be taken into account in such a policy? (please note that this is not the same as asking for your own employer's policy - please do not divulge any proprietary information here or directly to me).

For example, the following questions/considerations come to my mind:

- Should employees be encouraged/allowed to state their corporate affiliation in their blog? - What if an employee states a position in a "hot" area (such as SOA) that - even if unintentionally - conflicts with the corporation's message for that area? - What if such a position conflicts with another employee that is writing on the same topic in their own blog? (i.e. can such things be realistically monitored?) - Should employees be required to place a uniform disclaimer on their blog that states "The opinions here are of my own..." etc. - What types of "violations" (if one may use that term) can be considered so severe that they should lead to termination of an employee? - How does one balance between rights such freedom of speech, and the need of a corporation to put forth a consistent, solid message? - Any others?

Thanks so much, Joe

Joseph Chiusano Associate Booz Allen Hamilton

700 13th St. NW, Suite 1100 Washington, DC 20005 O: 202-508-6514 C: 202-251-0731 Visit us online@ http://www.boozallen.com