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Early Russert Wikipedia Update Leads To Firing
David Utter
Staff Writer
2008-06-23
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Securing confidential trade secrets poses one challenge to security pros, but the spread of private inside chatter via the Internet makes for an impossible task.
 | | Early Russert Wikipedia Update Leads To Firing |  |
The untimely passing of 'Meet The Press' host Tim Russert put NBC into a scramble as they maneuvered to notify his family, and to set up how they wanted to make the news available to the public.
The network didn't count on an unnamed staffer making the decision for them. The New York Times said someone who heard the news in St. Paul, MN, updated Russert's Wikipedia entry with the news of his death, and updated verbs in the entry to past tense.
Evidently NBC executives responded with outrage at this, as it took place some 40 minutes before lead anchor Tom Brokaw announced it on television. The edits were reverted by someone at the same company where they took place.
Then the hammer dropped on the unfortunate employee, who assumed Russert's passing was by then common knowledge. The person was fired in the wake of the complaint from NBC.
Security pros should see a learning opportunity here. Communication should have been the first option chosen by NBC. Those within the extended circle of the company needed to be informed about the news, and instructed on how to handle it.
Whether or not this becomes a legal case remains to be seen. A lack of communication leading to the firing of an employee may be fodder for someone in our litigious society. In a crisis, security pros need to keep a level head and help others do the same.
About the Author:
David Utter is a business and technology writer for SecurityProNews and WebProNews.
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