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Petition launched to save sacked SBS reporter Scott McIntyre as AFR journo tweets in protest

Change.org petition reinstate Scott McIntyre

An online petition has been created to re-instate sacked SBS reporter Scott McIntyre. Source: Change.org

An online petition has been started urging broadcaster SBS to reinstate sports reporter Scott McIntyre after he was sacked for a series of tweets about Anzac Day over the weekend.

The calls come as a number of journalists have questioned the decision to dismiss McIntyre as gagging his right to express opinion, with Fairfax Media journalist Geoff Winestock challenging the company to sack him after tweeting Anzacs are “racist yobs” describing the day as a “death cult”.

Geoff Winestock McIntyre  tweet

Winestock’s protest tweet

A Change.org petition addressed to SBS managing director Michael Ebeid and sport director Ken Shipp is asking the SBS to “immediately reverse the decision and to provide a public apology”.

“The actions taken by SBS management are reprehensible,” the open letter states. “In these dark times, Scott McIntryre [sic] is a courageous journalist and citizen for daring to speak truth to power, providing a critical voice in opposition to war, amid a barrage of chest-beating nationalist propaganda.”

McIntyre, a sports reporter with over 30,000 followers, was sacked following a series of tweets in which he mentions the “summary execution, widespread rape and theft committed by these ‘brave’ Anzacs in Egypt, Palestine and Japan”. Scott McIntyre

In a statement yesterday announcing the sacking Ebeid said “respect for Australian audiences is paramount at SBS,” adding: “Mr McIntyre’s actions have breached the SBS Code of Conduct and social media policy and as a result, SBS has taken decisive action to terminate Mr McIntyre’s position at SBS, with immediate effect.”

SBS’ social media protocol states: “While SBS employees have the right to make public comment and to enter into public debate in their personal capacity, it is important to ensure that SBS is not brought into disrepute. Individuals should consider how their posts will be perceived by the community, taking into account the standards which apply to their work.”

Australian Financial Review journalist Geoff Winestock used Twitter to protest the decision, labelling Anzac Day a death cult and daring Fairfax to sack him. Responding to whether the company was going to take any action against the reporter, a Fairfax Media spokesperson replied “no comment”.

 

Channel Ten Journalist and Soldier On Board member Hugh Riminton also voiced his concern,  saying Ebeid’s decision was wrong, tweeting to Ebeid “you had options other than sacking him”.Hugh Riminton McIntyre TweetsHugh Riminton McIntyre Tweets
Sydney Morning Herald sports reporter Dominic Bossi also tweeted his support for the former SBS journalist.
Dominic Bossi McIntyre tweet

Nick Ilic, a former Australian soldier and current physiotherapist, penned a blog post condemning the decision and asking whether there is now a culture in Australia where people are not free to debate the role of the Anzacs.

“Can we even have an open discussion when the anonymity of social media allows otherwise proud and patriotic Australians to open up a can-of-social-whoop-ass on anyone who questions the most holy of Australian & New Zealand days?” he wrote.

In his statement Ebeid said while “employees on and off air are encouraged to participate in social media” maintaining the “integrity of the network and audience trust is vital”.

Richard Aedy, host of the ABC’s Media Report program, said journalists are unclear about what they are allowed to share on social media.

“Part of the problem is, this is a grey area and employers’ social media policies do not spell out no go areas,” he told Mumbrella.

“Journalists are now expected to use social media to promote their work, to seek information and to interact with their audiences.  It is OK to have opinions, especially about things that don’t really matter, like sport, or reality TV.

“I don’t believe he should have lost his job for expressing an opinion that other people find upsetting. If SBS wanted to punish him, there are other avenues.”

Journalist and media academic Margaret Simons said the action against Scott McIntyre by SBS was unfounded adding: “There is no good reason for him to lose his job over this.”

“Many organisations are struggling to come up with social media policy. Just because someone is employed as a journalist doesn’t mean they don’t lose their right to free speech,” she said.

Human Rights Commissioner Tim Wilson told ABC’s AM program the tweets were “extremely disappointing” adding: “There’s always a grey line about particularly government organisations firing somebody for expressing a political opinion. I’d argue these were right on the line and in the end SBS had to take some action. Whether this was the right course of action I think is very much up for debate.”

Matt Kendall, digital planning director at communications agency One Green Bean, said employees must tweet according to the social media policies of their employer.

“In many ways you are free to Tweet what you like, however virtually every organisation has social media policies in place, that staff are required to adhere to,” he said. “My advice would be to always pause and think before you post – because if your 15 minutes of internet infamy damages the reputation of the organisation you work for – particularly if it is a public broadcaster – then there is a good chance it will cost you your job,” he said.

The Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance released a statement saying it is concerned about the rigidity of social media policy in media workplaces.

“Striking a balance between engaging in debate and freedom of expression requires social media policies to be nuanced. What MEAA is finding is that social media policies of employers are inflexible and deny staff the right to have and express a personal opinion,” the MEAA wrote in the release.

“MEAA believes that employers must recognise that their employees are entitled to a private life, with their own beliefs and opinions; opinions that should be able to be expressed without heavy-handed retribution by the employer.”

Sam Buckingham-Jones

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