Salt Lake City Newsie at KTVX Loses Job over Anti-Mormon Tweet

Next time you feel like showing your internal judgment meter to the world, better double check your means of communication. If, say, you want to whisper about your Salt Lake City neighbors, it might be a good idea to make sure you’re reaching out to your personal network of similarly minded besties rather than using your employer’s corporate Twitter account — especially when your employer is a high-profile local news network. Well, one KTVX-TV employee forgot that tiny unwritten rule of thumb. Say it together now: (high pitch) Awkward!

KTVX Employee Accidentally Tweets Using Station’s Twitter Handle

Earlier today, an undisclosed employee of the local Utah ABC news station KTVX tweeted: “I’m downtown eating. Surrounded by Mormons and repressed sexual energy.” The tweet pokes fun at members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Rather than ranting from his own personal account, seems the culprit accidentally posted using the KTVX ABC 4 News handle.

Well, he resigned shortly thereafter. KTVX then posted this apology tweet a couple hours later:

A personal tweet went out that in no way is consistent with the station views. This issue has been addressed and we apologize for the tweet.

— ABC4 Utah (@abc4utah) October 1, 2010

Not The First Time

This is certainly not the first time Twitter has led to unemployment. Feedback so far suggests that locals think embarrassment is punishment enough and firing isn’t necessary — a compassionate sentiment no doubt developed as a result of knowing what it’s like to make a Twitter-snafu.

6 Ways To NOT Get Fired For Using Social Media

So, to help you keep your bearings in our dizzying world of exhibitionism, here are a few rules of thumb for airing your business to the world:

1. Don’t complain about your boss/job/client on your social media accounts.
2. Don’t update while intoxicated. (UWI)
3. Check to make sure you’re on the right account before posting something sensitive.
4. Adjust your Gmail setting to give you the maximum time to “undo” a message you accidentally sent to your employer, not your bookie/lover/sponsor/mom.
5. Separate your IM accounts clearly. Work and play should not be confusable.
6. Don’t be hateful, racist, sexist, talk bad about other religions or just generally a bad person. Be nice. Never post anything online that your mom or boss wouldn’t approve.

Good luck out there!