Journalist Birch could face disciplinary action, including dismissal, after four executives at US television stations reviewed her photographs.
The case has sparked reactions and discontent in the WPLG newsroom, where she works. According to FTVLive, news executives are concerned about the content she posted. Attention is also focused on how station management will enforce its internal rules governing journalists’ conduct on social media.
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A member of WPLG’s editorial staff has accused manager Pokhovey of failing to uphold the standards he set for employees. The staff member called Pokhovey weak and said he lacked the courage to take action.
Earlier, in a memo to staff, Pokhovey had asked journalists not to post content that could damage the station’s reputation. He stressed that their job was to focus on journalism, not to act as social media personalities.
In his message, Pokhovey said he was tired of repeating the request: his staff, he said, were journalists, not influencers. He objected to videos of employees dancing, fashion shows, posts about outfits and other content he described as ridiculous and distracting from their role as journalists.
Pokhovey had clarified that the guidelines also applied to personal social media accounts because employees represent the station even when they are off duty. He urged them to remember that they should be credible journalists, not Kardashians, adding that some of the posts he had seen concerned him.
The discussion has highlighted disagreements in the newsroom over the limits of journalists’ behavior on social media and the protection of the station’s professional image.
