HometownSource Blogs

Ok, so the truth is I can’t stay away. I love this place and take great pride in the fact that I helped build it. But it requires some sort of policy implementation that protects the best interests of ECM, ECM Blogs, and the authors themselves. Recently, some events have occurred that make it imperative such a policy is adopted.

As such, we can wait for corporate to form a committee, weigh dozens of pros and cons, suggest rewrites, have lawyers give an official approval and then, maybe three months from now, we would have a policy that protects both the company and the authors.

Then I thought, THIS IS A BLOG. The spirit of a blog is open forum and transparency. What better place to open a policy discussion than right here on the home page?

And, since there is no policy against it (heck, there’s no policy at all!), why not? And, who better than to fashion a policy than ECM’s first generation of bloggers? So, without further intro:

1. Treatment of fellow ECM blog authors: This is a no-brainer. If there is any doubt, please refer to the employee manual section on workplace relations. (In fact, please consult the “workplace relations” section of your employee manual before continuing.) ECM Blogs is nothing more than a digital workplace, and what applies in a physical office space should apply here no differently.

That should not restrict disagreement and debate, which should remain as vigorous as it has always been. If an author does not feel they can disagree or debate without resorting to practices disallowed by ECM, they should not blog. Authors who feel they have been a victim of a breach in company policy should be encouraged to take the appropriate steps, as prescribed by company policy.

2. Commenting: As a comment section is designed for readers, and ECM Blogs comment sections have been almost totally dominated by ECM authors (myself included), it is proposed that, going forward, comment sections be off limits to ECM Blogs authors.

This also does not preclude debate and disagreement. It does however limit it to issues authors feel strongly enough about to actually post on. This not only helps keep the home page fresh and reasonable debate front and center, it ends the practice of burying the more base reactions in others’ comment sections. In short: If you have something to say, do so in front of everyone.

This also does not restrict responding to requests or questions by commenters. Authors are encouraged to “UPDATE:” an original post when and if they decide a comment requires attention.

As ECM Blogs authors, we have more than ample avenue for expressing ourselves. There is no reason why we need another. Comments would remain open to all ECM employees that are not authorized blog authors.

3. Anony-blogging: As far as I know we have not had a problem with this, but it is proposed that ECM Blogs authors not be allowed to create a fictitious identity for purposes of entering comment sections - their own, or those of others. Doing so is a serious ethical violation and journalists (not ECM journalists) have already been fired for trolling their own blog comment sections or company Web sites anonymously. Anything a blog author feels compelled to say should be done using a true identity. ECM Blogs authors discovered to be posting comments under a pseudonym would face a loss of blog privileges.

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So there it is, a draft policy for ECM Blogs. Authors are encouraged to weigh in on the draft in comments (it’s not a policy violation yet). I hope to hear from everyone who blogs here. Have an additional suggestion? A tweak? Improved language? The digital door is wide open. The sooner we can agree on a policy the sooner we can move forward safe in the knowledge that the company, the blog, and the authors are protected, and we are putting our best product forward.

Whatever is decided here will be submitted to the ECM corporate office for approval.

So, I turn the floor over to you…