Meldon Ellis interviewed by CBC News
Excerpt from "Your Boss Knows What You Do Online" Full article found here: http://bit.ly/cEaKOy 7
That's what happened to Meldon Ellis, now a lawyer. He was working for a tech company a number of years ago when a client launched a vicious online attack. The posts with the lies were always the first to come up in a Google search. They made it appear as though Ellis was involved in fraud. He had to answer questions about those posts for years in business meetings and job interviews.
Ellis eventually won a defamation suit and had a court order forcing Google to remove the questionable links. But the best thing he says he did was take charge of his online reputation.
"Jealously guard and protect your web profile and consider that as an asset and not allow it to
get into the hands of someone who can wreak havoc on your reputation." Meldon Ellis Ellis built his own website and updated it regularly. He approved stories about him online, moving those further up the Google search list. Over time the defamatory stories were moved down and were lower on search rankings.
He had to do this a few years ago on his own. Now there are companies who will do it for you for about 15 hundred dollars.
Most people think they're not interesting enough to have an online attack or anything harmful come up on a search. Most people are right. But for anyone applying for work, looking for a promotion, or even looking to join and/or lead a volunteer organization, check what your online reputation is, and make efforts to change it if need be.
On a personal note, journalists are used to comments and complaints made about them, or their work. It's part of our job. But not part of the job for those who don't put themselves in front of the public.
Ellis eventually won a defamation suit and had a court order forcing Google to remove the questionable links. But the best thing he says he did was take charge of his online reputation.
"Jealously guard and protect your web profile and consider that as an asset and not allow it to
get into the hands of someone who can wreak havoc on your reputation." Meldon Ellis Ellis built his own website and updated it regularly. He approved stories about him online, moving those further up the Google search list. Over time the defamatory stories were moved down and were lower on search rankings.
He had to do this a few years ago on his own. Now there are companies who will do it for you for about 15 hundred dollars.
Most people think they're not interesting enough to have an online attack or anything harmful come up on a search. Most people are right. But for anyone applying for work, looking for a promotion, or even looking to join and/or lead a volunteer organization, check what your online reputation is, and make efforts to change it if need be.
On a personal note, journalists are used to comments and complaints made about them, or their work. It's part of our job. But not part of the job for those who don't put themselves in front of the public.
posted by MELDON ELLIS — BA, LLB, Attorney and Barrister & Solicitor @ Wednesday, April 21, 2010
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