Freedom of Speech
A weblog costs one reporter her job

By Rachel Mosteller

Let’s be honest here. Who has never made a snide comment about their boss, their job or the day-to-day things that frustrate us? Unless you're Mother Theresa, you've likely made them, at least to your family and friends. I've made these types of comments, too; but I made them on the Internet. And they cost me my job.

It all started innocently enough. As a 23-year-old features writer at a daily newspaper, I spent a lot of time writing about pop culture and trends, including weblogs. Eventually, I started my own blog, The Sarcastic Journalist.

The premise was simple: I wrote anonymously about my take on life, including my job and events in the news. Worried that my politically incorrect statements might cause problems at work, I spoke with my immediate editor about my blog. After reading it, he assured me that I was OK.

Things went as planned. I continued working, continued blogging and had no problem doing both. However, last November my opinions of my employer changed drastically. All of a sudden, I was written up for several minor infractions. By then, I also was two-months pregnant.

Now, I’m not going to lie. I wasn’t a saint on my blog. I did make fun of two or three of my coworkers on a regular basis -- anonymously, of course. Everyone had a pseudonym, such as “Book Hoarder” or “Fumblenuts,” depending on their personalities. I never revealed where I worked and remained cautious about what I posted out of fear that someone might figure me out.

On April 16, one of the managing editors, who I had made fun of in the previous day’s post about inner-office awards, called me into a conference room. I knew something was wrong. This guy never spoke with me unless it was absolutely necessary.

They fired me right there. They wouldn’t give any information, only saying something about my Web site. I was 28-weeks pregnant.

As many people know, employers can basically fire workers for any reason they choose. I find it odd, however, that a newspaper, which trumpets free speech, felt the need to silence one of its own employees for doing the same.

Sure, I made comments about my job, but who doesn’t? For anyone, blogger or not, to say otherwise, would be a downright lie. I kept the newspaper's name a secret, as much to protect them as to protect my own identity.

Some have suggested they fired me due to my sarcasm and my unwillingness to be politically correct. I wasn’t. People have claimed they fired me because I wasn’t credible. That wasn’t the case either. In fact, I had quite an impressive track record for someone so new to the business. I had interviewed all sorts of celebrities, from Richard Simmons to Jimmy Carter. I often had editors come over to me to tell me they enjoyed my work.

I was more Elizabeth Spiers, the original voice behind the gossip site Gawker, than Jayson Blair.

No matter what people’s opinions of The Sarcastic Journalist are, the issue here remains that although my former employer, a newspaper that often wrote scathing editorials about local people in the news, could exercise its freedom of speech, its employees could not, even in an anonymous forum.

It has been three months since my sudden departure from the newspaper. Honestly, I don’t know what they are writing about, as I refuse to read the publication. Although the road has been difficult, especially explaining to older family members why I got fired, I wouldn’t change what has happened.

Although my termination has turned the final weeks of my pregnancy into one big emotional and financial rollercoaster, I’m proud to say I didn’t give in to the mind-sucking corporate culture that many workplaces promote.

After all, I can take solace in the realization that they know exactly what I thought about them.

The Sarcastic Journalist currently lives with her husband in Houston. The couple is expecting its first child this month.