Tweeting Reporter Wins Job Back

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

With so many people now using social media like Facebook and Twitter to communicate about all facets of their lives, the line between professional and private is increasingly blurry. A recent case in which a local reporter fired for “inappropriate” tweeting won reinstatement may be helpful for workers and their advocates in this fast-moving area. Radio Free Asia (RFA) reporter -- and Newspaper Guild 32035 member -- King Man "Gregory" Ho was fired last year after he had a Twitter exchange with two Chinese bloggers who had objected to his coverage of their meeting with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Ho recorded the meeting on video which was posted on the RFA web site. The bloggers attacked Ho on Twitter, claiming -- among other things -- that he had fabricated the story. RFA claimed Ho was insubordinate because he had allegedly been told not to get into an exchange with the bloggers. In his ruling, the arbitrator made it clear he gave little weight to RFA's claims Ho had been told not to Tweet with the two bloggers. Ho testified that his boss told him just the opposite, that he kept her posted of what he was doing and that she never objected to his Tweeting until after RFA higher-ups -- instigated in part by the State Department -- called the Tweets into question. The arbitrator -- who made a point of saying there was absolutely nothing wrong with Ho's story that triggered the controversy -- found that RFA should issue Ho a written warning “directing him not to engage in ‘public’ debates with news sources” and ordered him reinstated with full back pay and benefits. - UCS Local Union News Service