The Washington Post took swift action after controversial tweets from one of its managing editors Raju Narisetti disclosed opinions on healthcare reform and the hospitalization of Sen. Robert Byrd.

Not only has Narisetti since closed his Twitter account, but the Post on Friday implemented a series of new social networking guidelines. It says the guidelines had previously been in the works, but editors “decided to accelerate the completion of [them]” after the Narisetti incident.

While it has not released the guidelines to the public, some parts of it were shared on the blog of ombudsman Andrew Alexander.

A few highlights:

• “nothing we do [on Twitter and Facebook] must call into question the impartiality of our news judgment.”
• “Post journalists must refrain from writing, tweeting or posting anything – including photographs or video – that could be perceived as reflecting political racial, sexist, religious or other bias or favoritism that could be used to tarnish our journalistic credibility.”

The new guidelines, as shared, would seem to have an impact on some of the Post’s more creative and popular Twitterers like Howard Kurtz (@HowardKurtz) and Chris Cillizza (@TheFix).

Both immediately addressed the concerns.

1. 
   HowardKurtz Under new WP guidelines on tweeting, I will now hold forth only on the weather and dessert recipes. 26 Sep 2009 from web
2. 
   HowardKurtz Actually, I always assumed you shouldn’t tweet anything you wouldn’t say in print or on the air. Diff betw having thoughts and being biased. 26 Sep 2009 from web
3. 
   HowardKurtz Apparently I just lost one follower who lacks confidence that I will be as charming and insightful as ever under new WP rules. Gimme a shot! 26 Sep 2009 from web
4. 
   TheFix Also, lots of question about the Fix Twitter feed in light of new Post policy. This feed will KEEP ON ROCKING 27 Sep 2009 from web

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Media analysts, journalism professors and professional journalists weighed in on the new guidelines, mostly criticizing them as a step backward for the Post.

1. 
   jayrosen_nyu Something is seriously “off” at the Washington Post; I wish I knew more about the culture to know what it is. For now: “the print guys won.” 26 Sep 2009 from web
2. 
   jeffjarvis Washington Post turns journalists into antisocial mannequins. So much for new connections to the community. 26 Sep 2009 from Tweetie
3. 
   dankennedy_nu Hard to believe that WP was the leader in big-paper online innovation just a few years ago. 26 Sep 2009 from TweetDeck
4. 
   mleewelch WP Tweet-ban worse than I thought: It’s to avoid letting people see what the newsvolk REALLY think. Transparency! http://tinyurl.com/yabrc3x 26 Sep 2009 from web
5. 
   mathewi not sure what to say about the new WaPo social-media policy and the fact that an ME quit Twitter as a result: http://is.gd/3H1JM 26 Sep 2009 from TweetDeck
6. 
   AlanMairson . @mathewi WaPo Twitter policy sounds like journo equiv of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Bizarre for people paid to ask & tell. 27 Sep 2009 from TweetDeck in reply to mathewi
7. 
   jlittau You get on Twitter to show a human face, Washington Post. Dumb policy on the use of social media. http://is.gd/3HJiJ 27 Sep 2009 from web

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