CNET's Guide To Blogging Misses The Mark

CNET News has published a guide to blogging in the workplace in frequently-asked questions (FAQ) style. Unfortunately, this is not one of CNET's better efforts to address a topical issue (see this The FAQ include some comments that are just plain wrong. For instance, the question "Can my employer fire me if I blog from home on my own time?" includes in the answer "The odds of your company perusing your blog is slim." The opposite is far more likely to be true - if you blog, anyone will find it. That means someone in your company as well. And the question "Does that mean blogging could boost my career?" includes "The chances that someone will find your blog are low." Again, that's simply not the case. Just Google someone's name - you may be surprised at what turns up, including a blog if they have one. Overall, I found it rather superficial, even with trying to project myself into the mind of someone reading it who may not know much about blogging and the workplace. And its wholly US focus, with specific references to labour and employment situations in the US, has little real relevance elsewhere. If you're looking for some insight into blogging and workplace-related issues, a good place to start is the The New PR Wiki. This section is entitled 'Legal Problems.' Don't let that put you off - while the resources list includes info on some high-profile employee blogger firings over the past four months or so, there's a great deal of thoughtful positive knowledge here. Including a link to the CNET FAQ ;) Neville Hobson is the author of the popular Crayon. Visit Neville Hobson's blog: