The New York Times just issued what they’re calling a Twitter “reset” for their staff – as leftists continue to retreat in fear of what Elon Musk’s shakeup of the platform may have in store for them.
The Times announced the new guidance which, for the first time, discourages staff from using Twitter and stressed to them that attacking colleagues directly or indirectly in public is not allowed.
NYT Executive Editor Dean Baquet explained the updated guidance in an email to staff.
Baquet said that the NYT is overhauling its approach to Twitter to scale back the emphasis the outlet places on its journalists being engaged online.
“We can rely too much on Twitter as a reporting or feedback tool — which is especially harmful to our journalism when our feeds become echo chambers. We can be overly focused on how Twitter will react to our work, to the detriment of our mission and independence. We can make off-the-cuff responses that damage our journalistic reputations. And for too many of you, your experience of Twitter is shaped by harassment and attacks,” Baquet wrote.
“It’s clear we need to reset our stance on Twitter for the newsroom. So we’re making some changes,” he continued.
Baquet added in the email that maintaining a presence on Twitter is now “purely optional” for NYT staff.
For those staff who choose to stay connected on Twitter, the NYT now asks its staff to “meaningfully reduce” social media usage to avoid trapping themselves in a social media echo chamber, as well as cut down on online harassment and abuse.
Baquet also reemphasized that NYT staff’s presence on social media is a direct reflection of the company.
“I want to emphasize that your work on social media needs to reflect the values of The Times and be consistent with our editorial standards, social media guidelines and behavioral norms,” Baquet wrote.
“In particular, tweets or subtweets that attack, criticize or undermine the work of your colleagues are not allowed. Doing so undercuts the reputation of The Times as well as our efforts to foster a culture of inclusion and trust.”
The Times sudden policy change comes in reaction to Elon Musk’s appointment to the Twitter board of directors.
Musk has been an outspoken critic of Twitter’s widespread censorship of conservatives – including former President Donald Trump himself.
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is stirring “fear” among some Twitter employees, according to a new report from Reuters.
Reports have also surfaced to indicate that employees within Twitter are panicking that they will be forced to stop their censorship practices.
Many employees are reportedly wary of reforms that Musk may bring to the site. Twitter told Reuters that the company’s board “plays an important advisory and feedback role across the entirety of our service” while daily decisions are made by Twitter’s management and employees.
One employee found this distinction “hard to believe” and told Reuters, “If that’s the case, why would Elon want a board seat?”
“Some people are dusting off their resumes,” another employee told the outlet. “I don’t want to work for somebody [like Musk].”
NYT “journalists.” Yeah, right. Can’t believe they actually admitted to using Twitter twits as “sources.”
It’s very interesting that NYT isn’t afraid of being censored, but rather that they can no longer censor others on Twitter.
On almost every media outlet:
If it didn’t meet the left agenda, it was censored, shadow banned, demonitized, “fact” checked, warning banners, labeled fake or conspiracy theory, users accounts removed, sued, bank accounts frozen, fundraising killed, dox’d, fired from employers, swatted, kicked out of restaurants and bars, physically attacked, arrested by leftist prosecuters, charged by kangaroo courts, attacked by IRS, etc. Etc.
Turnabout is fair play. Probably won’t happen, but wishful thinking.