Giving an interview gets a guy fired

A company - we don't know which one - recently fired an employee - we don't know who - for the apparently unpardonable sin of talking to the press without the permission of his public relations department.

While certainly not a first, former Microsoft blogger Robert Scoble tells this story and offers an interesting discussion of the underlying issues here:

Last night one of the people who've been on the ScobleShow (my video show) wrote me and told me he was fired for appearing on my show without PR permission. I won't tell you who that was since he's interviewing for a new position now, but it made me realize that when I aim my camera at someone that there are real consequences for doing so. Now, the guy in question should have known that would have pissed someone off. Most big companies, in their employment agreements, have in there that you aren't allowed to talk with the press unless given permission by the PR departments.

Yet not a day goes by without some employee somewhere ignoring that edict and talking to a reporter sans permission.

Most get their wrists slapped. Rarely do they get fired. And we in the press are always grateful for their words.

As for Scoble's indiscreet interviewee: My baseless guess would be that either the fellow was a serial blabbermouth or not altogether valuable to his company. Of course, neither is necessarily true, which would make the employer an even bigger ass for not cutting him some slack. (Scoble says the fellow didn't knock his company in any way, and, with all due respect to the ScobleShow, it's not as though the guy spilled secrets to "60 Minutes.")

As Scoble notes, companies generally do themselves a disservice by being so controlling regarding public communications.

Nevertheless, a couple times a month we get a frantic call from someone or other begging that we remove this or that quote that he or she uttered to a Network World reporter in a moment of unguarded truth-telling. Sometimes the employer will call. We've even had companies claim that we must remove the offending remarks - under threat of legal action - because the remarks were offered without official company permission.

Resisting the urge to laugh in the face of such bluster takes great self-control.

Scoble says that the lesson he is taking from this episode is to make sure to ask any desired interview subject whether he or she has gotten clearance from PR.

Wrong lesson.

While the instinct is noble and will certainly reduce the chances of a repeat of the recent firing, such a warning is also certain to reduce the number of interviews on the ScobleShow. Might as well ask: "Are you sure you want to risk saying something you'll regret?"

The real answer is for more companies to be more liberal regarding which of their employees can talk to the press without a PR babysitter. Those companies that are embracing corporate blogging are by definition moving in that direction.

Don't expect a stampede, however.

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