NYTimes Issues Social Media Guidelines

Think before you tweet, New York Times reporters have been told by their editors — and lay off the partisan opinions about President Trump.

“If our journalists are perceived as biased or if they engage in editorializing on social media, that can undercut the credibility of the entire newsroom,” Executive Editor Dean Baquet told the staff in guidelines issued Friday.

To the newsroom: 

The New York Times has been a dominant force on social media for years. Our newsroom accounts have tens of millions of followers. Many of our journalists are influential voices on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and other platforms. The voices of our readers, listeners and viewers inform and improve our reporting. 

We believe that to remain the world’s best news organization, we have to maintain a vibrant presence on social media. 

But we also need to make sure that we are engaging responsibly on social media, in line with the values of our newsroom. 

That’s why we’re issuing updated and expanded social media guidelines. 

The guidelines were developed in a collaborative way by Cliff Levy, Phil Corbett and Cynthia Collins, and are rooted in the very experiences of our journalists.
Please read them closely, and take them to heart. 

— Dean Baquet, Executive Editor

The memo comes after Baquet said during a panel discussion about covering the Trump administration at George Washington University that his journalists need to be consistent in their writing platforms to social media.

“I feel pretty strongly that New York Times journalists should not be able to say anything on social media that they cannot say either in the pages or in any of the platforms of The New York Times,” Baquet said.

Times chief White House correspondent Peter Baker advised: “It’s important to remember that tweets about President Trump by our reporters and editors are taken as a statement from The New York Times as an institution, even if posted by those who do not cover him.

“The White House doesn’t make a distinction,” Baker adds.

According to The NYPost, among the editors’ social media directives are:

• No political endorsements
• Be mindful of appearing to take sides on issues The Times seeks to cover objectively
• Avoid making customer service complaints, so as not to invite special treatment as a Times staffer.
• Always treat others with respect.