Sam Zell Ditches Internet Filters In The Newsroom

from the good-for-him dept

We were rather surprised last year to find out that the LA Times and other Tribune-owned newspapers had started employing web filters for journalists working at the newspaper. The filters were supposed to prevent journalists from visiting "inappropriate" sites, though failed to explain what a reporters was to do if he or she was actually reporting on inappropriate sites -- which should make you realize that there really are no inappropriate sites for a journalist. It looks like new Tribune owner Sam Zell is equally mystified by the policy and wasted little time getting rid of it with the following message:

"I do not see how a member of the Fourth Estate, dedicated to protecting the First Amendment, can censor what its own employees and partners can see. I have instructed that all content filters be removed. You are now exposed to the dangers of You Tube and Facebook. Please use your best judgment."

Somehow I get the feeling that Zell won't be joining the AFP in banning the use of Facebook and Wikipedia as sources.

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