On Monday, Hearst â whose magazine titles include Esquire, Cosmopolitan and Town & Country â sent staffers an email announcing the new restrictions, which were detailed in an internal document that employees were encouraged to sign.
âWe should be careful to consider the impact that a controversial statement on a hot-button issue may have on Hearstâs reputation,â the policy reads, according to a copy of the text of the document shared with The Washington Post.
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While violations could result in âtermination,â according to the document, the policy doesnât include examples of what qualifies as rule-breaking material. However, it does warn that posts about even seemingly âapoliticalâ or local topics could be contentious enough to be a problem.
âMany social movements are politically charged, and apolitical events and movements can quickly become controversial and political,â the policy reads. âEven local community organizations can become politicized.â