The policies, or in this case, the non-existence of certain policies, of other networks has absolutely no relevance in this matter. Fox News has
constantly demonstrated that it has little or no integrity, so using them as comparison or example for anything is quite absurd, and besides, Keith
Olbermann is employed by MSNBC so the only relevant policies here are those of MSNBC.
And it seems that Mr. Olbermann didn’t act in accordance with those policies. From that perspective there is no excuse for what Mr. Olbermann did,
or didn’t do — since it is alleged he failed to ask for permission — and management is acting legitimately.
There is another question here, though. Employees are subject to the conditions and terms of their contracts, this, however, doesn’t mean that
employers have unlimited power in what they may request of and impose on their employees.
I’m unsure of the legality of this policy that, apparently, seems to
require employees ask permission
before contributing to political
campaigns. It seems to me that a sensible, and undoubtedly legal, approach to this concern — if indeed is a concern of the network — would be to
have the employees inform their employer of their contributions
once they had contributed, and make the viewers aware of this fact.
This question, of course, would only be settled if Mr. Olbermann, or other employee suspended/fired for the same reason, would challenge this policy
in court. Something I’m pretty sure won’t happen, more so that I believe Mr. Olbermann will be back on the air, and on MSNBC, very
soon.
edit on 6-11-2010 by aptness because: (no reason given)