While Bibi Talked Red Lines, Did a Tweeting Journo Cross One?
September 28, 2012 11:56 by Pesach BensonJournos on Twitter routinely identify their positions and news services because it helps them gain followers, boosts their credibility, and adds transparency to their industry.
But they often add a disclaimer, such as “Any views expressed are my own.”
I don’t want to stifle any correspondent’s free speech. But using their professional position to boost a personal twitter feed still reflects on the employer. After all, when reporters express ill-advised opinions (they’re entitled to be stupid too), it starts to erode public confidence in their work and professionalism.
Which brings us to Wyre Davies, who covers the Israel for the BBC. Tweeting his reactions to the Netanyahu and Abbas UN speeches, one particular tweet insinuated that Israel’s hypocritical on nukes.
So I’m putting to the readers. Is it hypocritical for journalists to both play up and disown their professional credentials? While Bibi talked about red lines, did Davies cross one?
I’m pre-empting the inevitable Octavia Nasr comparisons. Davies didn’t go that far.
Yair
6:55 pm
Sep 28, 2012
A common misdirection. Unless they actually think the nukes are the point, and not what Iran has been doing with what power they have at the moment…
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oldschooltwentysix
9:21 pm
Oct 01, 2012
Has he shown that Israel, the nuclear power, is a global threat, or to whom?
As for the question, it’s fine to allow them to say what they want, but it does reflect bias that spills over into all of their work product.
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zinger101
3:22 am
Oct 06, 2012
I just came across this website and I have to say I’m quite shocked. I think it’s ironic that this site is called “honest” reporting when its so clearly levied towards one direction. Where’s the integrity?
Don’t you think you’re reaching here, Mr. Benson? Let’s get real for a second. The dissonance between an employee’s opinions and his/her Company is absolutely not unique to journalists. I’ve seen it in all types of businesses and industries, especially in business, finance, and other professional services. It’s a legal and policy issue, not some convenient valve that employees leverage.
That’s number one. Number two follows.
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zinger101
3:27 am
Oct 06, 2012
You can divide the tweet between 1) opinion 2) observation. Sure, you can take issue with Davies opinion on Bibi. But if we are all forward thinking individuals who believe in freedom of speech, then what can you do? Nothing dishonest here. In fact, it would have been dishonest for Davies to tweet opinions that he didn’t believe in. Sometimes honesty hurts. Like when my gf told me I can’t pull off a leather jacket. The second part, the observation, is in fact just that. Did Bibi not clearly lay out the threat that Iran poses? Does anyone here disagree?
I’m all for real honest reporting, regardless of faction/ethnicities or any ‘dividing dichotomies.’ I hope one day I’ll find it.
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Mohammed
8:10 am
Oct 11, 2012
I like the answer of this German Scholar when he was asked about terrorism and Islam: He said:
· Who started the First World War, which killed 37 million and injured 22, 379, 053 that includes 7 million civilians? Muslims?
· Who started the Second World War, which killed over 60 million, which was over 2.5% of the world population? Muslims?
· Who killed about 20 million of Aborigines in Australia? Muslims?
· Who drop the nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which killed 166,000 people in Hiroshima and 80,000 in Nagasaki? Muslims?
· Who killed more than 100 million Red Indians in North America? Muslims?
· Who killed more than 50 million Indian in South Americ
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David - Pro-Palestine and anti-hamas
5:55 am
Dec 16, 2012
he’s mega stupid to show his face. look at this davies. what a suntan- and stupidly and SUDO-bitter face he’s got, he’s proud — AND stupid. I SEE IT IN HIS FACE. EVRYBUDDY SEES IT. ITS CLEAR AS THE SKY THERE.
gosh IS THAT A MORON.
you know, its AMERICANS tryina be able to JUDGE anythang.$
and no, NOBODY is “entitled to be stupid”. There was your first wrong sentence, honestreporting. NO ONE must EVER be allowed to PERFORM in SILLY ways. PERIOD. and no, joking here is INAPPROPRIATE. a little bit more seriousness at the relative places as here would be needed.
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David - Pro-Palestine and anti-hamas
6:00 am
Dec 16, 2012
mister davies. we invite you to go to israel, and be bombed away by the more than urine uran iran nuke bomb.
israel has never kicked da a bomb.
iran would do it.
davies is either chamberlain — or hitler himself. makes no diff.
!
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David - Pro-Palestine and anti-hamas
6:06 am
Dec 16, 2012
mohammed, if you want to use this forum to speak anti-israel propaganda, forget it buddy.
you are a primitive hatred-guided hoodlum junkie neonazi.- get lost.
I think there should be a “report abuse” button also here, as on yahoo. !!!
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David - Pro-Palestine and anti-hamas
6:10 am
Dec 16, 2012
i see also, that his “mohammed” here has now for the actual SECOND time posted NON-TOPIC, WILD LIES and misrepresentations -.–
THE EXACT SAME POST as at ANOTHER article.
this “mohammed” here is abusing structurally this forum. I hereby file this legal complaint against him. comments such as his should be marked as abusive BY the forum itSELF, underlined by the FORUM’S MEMBERS’ THUMBINGS.
our SOCIETY must be IMPREGNABLE by ABUSE. PERIOD.
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