Should CNN (or any other company) have that? I think much depends on other things including what they may already have in place with guidelines or policies on what employees can or can’t do with things like email.

But if there’s either nothing meaningful in any such area, or if there is something in place yet is so bare bones or buried away (as appears to be the case with CNN), then perhaps the employer ought to have something explicit on this topic.

Should CNN have had a blogging clause in their employee handbook? Maybe. Given that they are a media organization I see the argument, but even broadcasting contracts didn’t include this kind of clause until at BEST 3 years ago. I’d seriously doubt that the majority of companies strive to reevaluate their employee handbook every 2-3 years.

CNN should have handled the situation better, but these kinds of thing always have and always will continue in broadcasting.

I think CNN should shoulder much of the responsibility here. Yes, common sense ought also to be in the picture by the employee. But the employer has a responsibility of care, ie, in this case to ensure that a) it’s clear to everyone what’s allowed and what isn’t when it comes to any activity beyond what you’re contracted for as an employee, and b) to communicate that.

Based on Chez Pazienza’s account, it appears they fell down in both areas.

Matt, it makes CNN look very much like Drop the Dead Donkey

I don’t know about you, but newsreaders all seem just that little bit more miserable to me, perhaps its since ‘drop the dead donkey’ finished it’s run.

You don’t get tv like that anymore.