Mistakes Journalists Make

Common Mistakes among the Journalistic World

          As journalists, we are constantly checking social media, our phone and other devices in which we take part in. Our social life and professional life can sometimes be a blur. This is where we need to remember to be responsible and careful about the pictures and messages we post.

          Eleven percent of "sext" messages are accidentally sent to the wrong person, according to a British study. "Sexting" is the act of sending an X-rated message to another person over text messaging. While this is rarely ever a good idea, if done, this can easily be put in the wrong hands. Even if you send the message and delete it on your phone afterward, the information can end up on the Internet.

          Other activity that triggers a big no is checking out inappropriate information on the job. What you do at home is none of our business, however, even if you delete your history on the computer at work, you could possibly still be caught. 

"In a case from Australia, a government employee was terminated after he Googled the word "knockers" on his company laptop, at home. Being naive, that term seems rather innocuous to me, but it turns out that this has nothing to do with hardware for your front door. (Please don't google this word. I don't want any of my readers to get in trouble with their jobs.)

Despite the fact the man deleted his browser history, the computer he used, a work-provided laptop, had the program Spector360 installed. That programs takes "snapshots" of a user's Internet and desktop activity every 30 seconds.

Leave all "private" moments to your private computer. Just because your boss isn't standing over you doesn't mean he doesn't know what you're doing. Companies can and do monitor computer usage, not just usage on the company servers."  -cbsnews.com

      Yes, you should have a life beyond the desk. And yes, you should have a healthy relationship with your significant other. However, be aware of the effects that can occur through a simple click of a button. Think before you hit "send". Think before you post something inappropriate on a social media site and never forget the image of what could happen in the worse case scenario. 

Take time to ask yourself one simple question; How would my boss feel if he or she seen this?

Tia and Abigail