Sam Zell may be leaving editorial decisions to his direct reports at the newly bought Tribune, but he was sure quick to unfetter his new employees from the tyranny of IT restrictions.

Zell learned that some of Tribune’s newspapers were keeping personnel on a pretty short leash when it comes to surfing the Internet. It seems the real estate tycoon can’t see the sense in getting in the way of reporters getting to the Web.

But it’s also not a trivial issue, since we can all think of companies that limit entry not just to porn sites, but even the more innocuous places to waste time during a work day.

Here’s how Zell put it, from a memo to employees:

I do not see how a member of the Fourth Estate, dedicated to protecting the First Amendment, can censor what its own employees and partners can see. I have instructed that all content filters be removed. You are now exposed to the dangers of YouTube and Facebook. Please use your best judgment.

(Photo: Reuters)