[The Editors' Verdict] The SNS Backlash: Are Journalists Safe?

As the election approaches, the digital proverb "Social Networking Services (SNS) are a waste of life" has once again proven its universality. Candidates from both ruling and opposition parties have suffered setbacks due to posts they made on SNS in the past. Some have actually lost their positions. No one could have imagined back then that the small gestures made by pounding on keyboards over a decade ago would so brutally tear apart their futures. This does not mean everyone should delete their SNS accounts. Like any other technology, SNS can be either good or bad depending on how it is used. It is neutral and, in particular, does not discriminate against its subjects.

In January, the sudden dismissal of Antoinette Lattouf, a journalist at Australia's public broadcaster ABC, became a hot topic in the Anglo-American media world. The trigger was a report she shared on her Instagram the day before, which criticized Israel's unethical behavior in the Israel-Palestine war, authored by the international human rights organization Human Rights Watch (HRW). The controversy grew as suspicions arose that the dismissal was due to pressure from pro-Israel lobby groups.

In May 2021, a similar controversy occurred at the Associated Press (AP). AP reportedly fired an employee who had a history of Palestinian human rights activism. AP did not disclose what specific posts violated company rules. AP prohibits employees from publicly expressing opinions on public and political matters under its internal regulations. This is because such expressions could harm the reputation of objectivity and threaten the lives and safety of employees working worldwide. The AP spokesperson’s statement that "journalists have a responsibility to report issues fairly and reliably and cannot take sides in public discourse" has merit.

As the election approaches, a social media alert has been issued in Yeouido. Social media can become a tool that threatens not only politicians but also journalists.

Some domestic media outlets have also established SNS guidelines and codes of ethics. Generally, these include △ caution in expressing political views or opinions that may appear biased △ not presenting personal opinions as the company’s stance △ maintaining confidentiality of information obtained during reporting and sharing it internally first △ being careful not to spread false or inaccurate information △ maintaining dignity. These are common-sense principles even from a journalistic perspective.

The problem is that guidelines regulating journalists’ SNS use violate another important principle. Journalists are expected to be objective and fair. These expectations conflict with the fundamental right of freedom of expression. Mechanical application and censorship of guidelines can lead to accusations of suppressing individual freedom. Furthermore, the ethical codes’ interpretative ambiguities and inherent vagueness complicate the issue. The ABC journalist dismissal case in Australia is also pointed out as a result of such ambiguities.

As the election approaches, the number of journalists using SNS inevitably increases. While guidelines aim to protect, if power or political intentions intervene, they can become tools of threat. When journalists are cornered for violating SNS ethical codes, blaming the individual journalist alone should be especially avoided. It is also the responsibility of media organizations to help journalists balance fairness, autonomy, professional calling, and personal beliefs.