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July 8, 2010

Twitter message costs CNN Middle East editor her job

By Dominic wireposts

Journalists need to be careful of what they write on Twitter, because it could cost them their jobs.

The New York Times reports that rolling news channel CNN has “removed” veteran Middle Eastern affairs editor Octavia Nasr from her job after she wrote a Twitter message in praise of Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah, who died on Sunday.

She had previously interviewed Fadlallah and was evidently impressed by him.

Her Twitter post read: “Sad to hear of the passing of Sayyed Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah … One of Hezbollah’s giants I respect a lot.”

She alter tweeted: “Regret tweet about Fadlallah death bc I didn’t explain specific respect for standing up for Muslim women.”

According to the NYT a CNN spokesman said: “CNN regrets any offense her Twitter message caused. It did not meet CNN’s editorial standards. This is a serious matter and will be dealt with accordingly.”

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