May 9, 2008
Department of Education Restricts Staffers From Publicizing Blogs in Official Email
The Sun reports that a new Department of Education policy that "bans employees from linking to their Web logs in their work e-mail signature" is making at least one staffer with a blog unhappy.
Lisa Nielsen, who is "the professional development manager for educational technology" at the DOE (according to her blog's About Me section), had included a link to her "professional blog," The Innovative Educator, where she discusses how technology can enhance teaching, but the DOE took exception to that. Not only was Nielsen asked to remove the link, the Sun says "she would also have to add a disclaimer to every post on the blog saying that her views represented her own opinion, not the Department of Education’s."
Nielsen wrote in a post on her blog:
What happened to the idea of celebrating the successes among us and promoting the idea of authentic publishing and sharing and collaboration of ideas? I'm okay with a disclaimer on my blog (although I think a disclaimer on comments is extreme), but not so happy on the mandate to squelch the sharing of the existence of my blog ideas by eliminating the url from email signatures.It's an interesting question--the DoE must feel there are some legal issues, but if the employee's blog is an extension of professional and responsible dialogue, why not let someone show he/she is thinking about issues all the time via their blog?I'm well aware of other ways to share my blog url, but putting it along with my contact information helps identify me with more than just and email and phone. It enables me to connect my name to my ideas in a signature which enables my network to learn and grow as well. Yes they are my ideas, but so are all my emails. If people want to brand themselves (with a professional blog or an ethical quote for that matter) and share and establish their safe, appropriate, and acceptable professional digital footprint...shouldn't they be able?
And Nielsen shows how she's supposed to format her email signature here.
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because if someone linked on her blog and looked at the comments section and saw "I LIKE TO EAT BABIES!" then the DOE could get into a lot of needless trouble by association.
I LIKE TO EAT BABIES!
I agree with the DOE's stance. If she wants to include a link to her blog on her personal email signature, then fine; however, including it on her work email signature implies that the blog is in some way associated with or approved by the DOE, and that the views expressed are those of the DOE.
I know several lawyers who keep personal blogs regarding various legal issues; none of them link to those blogs through their firm-provided email addresses. However, some of them include information from their blogs in their firm's newsletters--perhaps Ms. Nielsen can do something like that.
By the way, I didn't see the email signature graphic included in this post in any of the links. Is it really a good idea to plaster this woman's phone number and email address on a blog posting?
dbc-she does link to her specific email signature here but I agree with you and have replaced the graphic.
Maybe when Nielsen leaves the DOE and opens her own consultancy, she can have whatever email signature she likes.
Until then, she needs to adhere to the protocol of the organization that hired her and pays her salary. The content of her blog is irrelevant. If it's a personal endeavor, regardless of subject matter, it has no place within her workplace's communications.
I'm amazed that this needs to be explained to her, but she's probably blinded by her own sense of self-worth.
Thank you for your attention to this issue. To clarify to those who have commented, I understand and am adhering to the directive of my employer. I just don't agree with it and hope they will reconsider the stance. I believe it is important that we encourage teachers to have a professional voice and I believe that should be a part of their professional identity. An additional clarification is that I am asked to place a disclaimer on my comments on other blogs, not comments on my blogs. On my blog I am placing a disclaimer that the views and opinions are my own. Regarding the inappropriate comments issue...as the owner of a blog I can delete inappropriate comments.
Lisa Nielsen
The Innovative Educator
http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com
I'm sure it also has to do with precedent. If they allow her to advertise her very professional blog on official email, then it will be tougher to keep teachers/administrative staff/custodial staff and so on from advertising some less savory blogs.
Excuse me, now I'm going to check out the Innovative Educator. Can't argue with free advertising!
I'm on the DOE side here. If you want to advertise the blog,link it to your personal email account not at work.
Linking it at work makes people think the DOE approves of the blog and the views it expresses.
The suggestion of linking a professional blog to a personal email misses the point of reaching the right audience. My professional (non-commercial) blog is created for my professional audience and has no relevance or interest to those in my personal life (with perhaps the exception of my mother).
The DOE has more than 80,000 educators pontificating every day. The DOE can not and should not be in the position of agreeing with and approving every voice and opinion. Educators with professional blogs should be given the respect to inform others through their professional email signature, business card etc. of a resource they have created to support their network.
While I agree, someone could post something inappropriate, unprofessional or not in alignment with the DOE they can also say, do, or teach something inappropriate or unprofessional. If that happens it should be addressed. However, holding back an educator's ability to share and celebrate what they are doing stifles enthusiasm, sends an unfortunate top-down message of distrust, and is just plain disappointing to enthusiastic people like me who must follow such marching orders.
Lisa Nielsen
The Innovative Educator
http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com
#2, in their own fat, or someone elses? Recipes!
The DOE has more than 80,000 educators pontificating every day. The DOE can not and should not be in the position of agreeing with and approving every voice and opinion
And thusly, should not allow personal viewpoints, opinions and attitudes advertised on corporate communication channels, regardless of their relevancy. There are plenty of professional organizations and associations that allow networking, discourse, and information-sharing opportunities.