The News Minute| August 7, 2014| 11.00 pm IST

The Hindu has issued a social media norm that advised that employees must try refrain from sharing stories of other publications on social media platforms including Twitter.

A mail sent to some of The Hindu employees by Managing Editor P Jacob and Senior Managing Editor V Jayanth says that there is a need to use social media responsibly. The mail says, “With the growing presence and salience of the social media and increasing market competition, it has become imperative to underline the importance of responsible use of social media platforms including Twitter by all journalists of The Hindu.”

After talking about responsibility on social media, the mail then goes on to tell the employees that sharing content of other publications especially of competitors is in ‘poor form’ and ‘preferably avoided.’

“While highlighting material from The Hindu itself for wide dissemination and attention ought to be appreciated and encouraged, projecting and commenting on -- adversely or otherwise -- the contents of other, especially competing, publications will be in poor form and is preferably avoided.”

The mail cautions employees that by sharing stories they should not end up doing a ‘favour to the competition’. 

“We need particularly to ensure that in our enthusiasm and urge to participate in an on-line discussion or debate, we do not end up doing a favour to the competition. When a person identifies himself/herself or is known as a journalist of The Hindu, even when it is made clear that the views or actions are one's own, balance, restraint and sobriety will be expected to be observed in online conduct and expression,” the mail says.

The mail ends with the note that other media organisations – print, online and visual – do not encourage their journalists to tweet links from competitors.