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March 08, 2005

It's not Cloud-cuckoo land

Another blogger feels the corporate heat for a post. This time it is a Technorati employee who has to reword a blog entry because his employer complained. Even though I understand why people are in uproar about this type of thing - just why do bloggers think they are somehow exempt from corporate "pressure"? Just because you blog doesn't mean you automatically get to write whatever you like about your employer. It just doesn't work like that - not even for bloggers. In fact it is probably even harder for bloggers because their employers are more likely to actually get wind of debatable comments. It is a lot safer mouthing off about your boss in the pub for example. Does anyone think corporate executives from Six Apart would let an employee write what she wants about the company on a public weblog? I think not.

Bloggers and the companies they work for need to work this out together. On the one hand it is definitely a bad sign if a company forces an employee to take down an offensive post, but on the other hand it is up to the blogger to recognize beforehand that a post may cause trouble and either not write it or word it carefully. Unfortunately not everyone can take Russell's stance and threaten to quit if the employer puts on the pressure. It isn't that easy.

Update: Dave Sifry from Technorati posts his side of the story and read it to get his point of view. Remember - there are always 2 sides to every story - even in blog-land.

Posted by Matthew at March 8, 2005 07:40 PM

Comments

Well, in therory Scoble often criticizes his employer Microsoft... As far as Niall, he didn't write about his employer, he created a work of art that some may have seen as critical of companies in the industry his company relies on, or customers of the company he works for. (At least that's my understanding of it.) As for Six Apart, once you go to work for them, you pretty much stop blogging, or so it seems... (Brad Choate's last post was November 5th, 2004.)

Posted by: Pete Prodoehl at March 9, 2005 07:59 PM