The Times Defines Facebook Friendship

Just in case you were confused about what Facebook friendship means, the NYT let's you [or, rather, their reporters] know in their new Facebook policy. In answering the question of whether reporters can write about their Facebook friends, the Times says:

 

 The answer depends on whether a "friend" is really a friend. In general, being a "friend" of someone on Facebook is almost meaningless and does not signify the kind of relationship that could pose a conflict of interest for a reporter or editor writing about that person. But if a "friend" is really a personal friend, it would.