Social Media

Contents

• Social Media and Local Government Webinar
• What is Social Media?
• Legal Issues
• Use of Social Media
• Policy Guides
• Social Media Policies - Washington State
• Social Media Policies - Out-of-State
• Targeting Specific Audiences
  • Citizen Reporting
  • Use by Law Enforcement
• Related MRSC Pages
  • Effective Communication and Public Participation
  • Reaching Citizens Through Technology
  • Open Public Meetings Act
  • Public Records Act

Social Media and Local Government Webinar

MRSC hosted a live webcast, Local Government Use of Social Media, on June 11, 2010. The webcast featured Bruce Blood, Citywide Web Manager, City of Seattle; Brenda Cooper, Chief Information Officer, City of Kirkland; and Marlene Feist, Communications Director, City of Spokane. The PowerPoint presentation and a video of the Q&A that followed the presentation are below:

• Social Media: Local Government Uses and Policies ()
• Webinar Q&A ()

What is Social Media?

• What is Social Media and Web 2.0? - Social Media and Web 2.0 are umbrella terms that define the various activities that integrate technology, social interaction, and content creation. Social media use the "wisdom of crowds" to connect information in a collaborative manner online. Through social media, individuals or collaborations of individuals create web content, organize content, edit or comment on content, combine content, and share content. Social media and Web 2.0 use uses many technologies and forms, including RSS and other syndicated web feeds, blogs, wikis, photo–sharing, video–sharing, podcasts, social networking, social bookmarking, mashups, widgets, virtual worlds, micro-blogs, and more. (From Social Media and Web2 0 in Government, WebContent.gov)
• What Is Web 2.0? Design Patterns and Business Models for the Next Generation of Software, by Tim O'Reilly, O'Reilly Media, 09/30/2009

Legal Issues

• Electronic Records Management: Blogs, Wikis, Facebook, Twitter & Managing Public Records (), Washington Secretary of State, 09/2009
• Friends, Faux Pas, Tweets and Traps: How Elected Officials Can Use Social Media and Comply with the Law, presented by Walter Neary, Lakewood City Councilmember, and Ramsey Ramerman, Everett Assistant City Attorney, AWC Webinar, recorded 01/07/2010 - View Webinar and download handouts
  • Audio
  • Friends, Faux Pas Presentation Slides ()
  • Q & A and Poll Results ()
  • Social Media Questions and Considerations ()
  • City Social Media Examples()
  • Private Website is Public Record(), Wisconsin Attorney General Letter, 12/23/2009
  • Seattle Policy Re. Social Media by Council Members (), Seattle City Council Special Committee on Open Government, Hearing Agenda
• PRA 401: Social Media: The Benefits and Risks of Social Media (), by Ramsey Ramerman, Proceedings of the Washington State Association of Municipal Attorneys' 2010 Annual Spring Meeting, 05/2010
• Social Media and the Public Records Act (), presentation by Joe Levan, MRSC Legal Consultant, WAPA Spring 2011 Conference, 04/21/2011

Use of Social Media

• The Blogging Revolution: Government in the Age of Web 2.0, by David C. Wyld, E-Government Technology Series, IBM Center for the Business of Government, 2007
• Designing Social Media Policy for Government: Eight Essential Elements, by Jana Hrdinová, Natalie Helbig, and Catherine Stollar Peters, Center for Technology in Government (CTG) at the University at Albany, State University of New York, 05/2010
• Using Web 2.0 to Support Collaboration: Four ways agencies and organization can use Web 2.0 to foster collaboration, by Russ Linden, Governing, Management Insights, 10/27/2010
• Foster Pepper Local Open Government Blog Web 2.0
• How an Army of Techies Is Taking on City Hall, by Anya Kamenetz, Fast Company, 11/29/2010
• Is Social Media a Friend or Foe of Government? by Tina Trenkner, Governing, 01/2010 - States and localities want to engage citizens, but social media comes with a lot of legal risks and management concerns.
• Leveraging Web 2.0 in Government, by Ai-Mei Chang, and P.K. Kannan, E-Government Technology Series, IBM Center for the Business of Government, 2008
• Making the Most of Social Media: 7 Lessons from Successful Cities (Description), University of Pennsylvania Fels Institute of Government - Written for local governments—cities, counties, townships, and their affiliates—that are beginning to experiment with social media and would like to get more out of them
  • Making the Most of Social Media: 7 Lessons from Successful Cities (), by Chris Kingsley (Lead Author), edited by Allison Brummel, Catherine Lamb, and Jack Higgins, University of Pennsylvania Fels Institute of Government, 2010 - Full Report
• Of Grassroots and Social Media, by Andrea L. Dono, Mainstreet Online, 03/03/2010 - Use of Facebook for campaign to save Washington's Mainstreet Program funding - Also appears in Mainstreet Now, March/April 2010
• Social Media/Networking Specific to Florida - An informal collection of resources that are specific to Florida, based on Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Federal Social Media Subcouncil experiences
• Twitter Hiring Liaison to Engage Government Users, Government Technology, 06/08/2010
• Utilizing Web 2.0 Tools, by Steve Towns, Tech Talk, Governing, 08/2010 - State and local governments use social networks to save time and enhance collaboration.
• Want to Improve Your City? There's An App for That, by Amy Feldman, Time, 12/21/2010
• WCMA Conference Presentations, 03/2011
  • Social Media Engagement Strategies (), presentation by Cheryl Bledsoe, Emergency Manager and Clark Regional Emergency Services (CRESA)
  • Social Media and Government: New Tools for New Times (), presentation by the City of Sandy, Oregon
• Twitter Guides
  • The Twitter Manual
  • The Twitter Guide Book
  • The Complete Guide to Twitter

Policy Guides

• Backing Up Twitter and Facebook Posts Challenges Governments, by Andy Opsahl, Digital Communities, 01/20/2010
• Best Practices for Social Media Usage in North Carolina (), North Carolina Office of the Governor, North Carolina Office of Information Technology Services, and North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, 2009
• Bellingham Facebook Fan Page Archiver Script - This free PowerShell script was created as a way to retain a record of all posts and comments published to a Facebook fan page wall; city is seeking comments on use.
• Developing Policies for Responsible Social Media Use, by Heather Kerrigan, Governing, 03/09/2011
• Facebook's Terms of Service for Local Governments()
• Guidelines for Secure Use of Social Media by Federal Departments and Agencies (), Information Security and Identity Management Committee (ISIMC), Network and Infrastructure Security Subcommittee (NISSC),Web 2.0 Security Working Group (W20SWG) Version 1.0, 09/2009
• A Report on Federal Web 2.0 Use and Record Value (), a study prepared by the National Archives and Records Administration, National Records Management Program, 2010
• Social Media and the Cities, Risk Management Information (), Minnesota League of Cities, published 09/21/2009
• Social Media and Web 2.0 in Government, WebContent.gov
• Social Media Policies Database, from ComplianceBuilding.com - A website about compliance and business ethics by Doug Cornelius, Chief Compliance Officer at a Beacon Capital Partners, LLC

Social Media Policies - Washington State

• Washington State Guidelines and Best Practices for Social Media Use In Washington State, Office of the Governor in Coordination with Multiple State Agencies and Contributors, 2010
• Using Social Media, Washington State Department of Personnel, DRAFT as of 09/22/2009
• Bonney Lake Social Media Policy(), 05/2011
• Bothell Social Media Policy(), 08/2010
• Cheney
  • Social Media Policy for Councilmembers (), 08/2010
  • Social Media Policy (), 08/2010
• King County
  • Social Media Policy (), 12/2010
  • Social Media Guidelines (), 12/2010
• Kitsap County Information Brief - Executive Summary (), re: base-line Issues on pursuing a social media program , Board of Commissioners Meeting of 08/31/2009
• Port Angeles Social Media Policies (), 02/2011
• Redmond Social Media Policy
• Seattle
  • Draft Policy Use of Social Media by Councilmembers (), Seattle City Council Special Committee on Open Government, Hearing Agenda, 12/07/2009
  • Social Media Use Policy
  • Twitter Standard
  • Facebook Standard
  • Blogging Policy
  • Guidelines for the Use of Social Media by City Departments (), 10/2009
• Shoreline
  • Social Media Policy (), 03/2010
  • Social Media Policy (Internal) (), Shoreline Policy and Procedure, City Manager's Office, CMO 10-1, effective 04/30/2010
• Spokane Social Media Policy (), effective 04/30/2010
• Tumwater Social Media Use Policy (), 03/2011
• Union Gap Policy Regarding the Use of Social Media/Social Networking by City Volunteer Committees, Boards, and Organizations, to Promote City Events (), 09/2011
• Vancouver Social Media Use Policy (), 04/2011
• Yakima Social Media Policy (), 06/2010

Social Media Policies - Out-of-State

• Arlington, VA Social Media Policy and Guidelines (), revised 07/2009
• Brea, CA Social Media Website Policy (), adopted 07/2009
• Federal
  • Use of Social Media Tools at FEMA - FEMA's goals with social media are: to provide timely and accurate information related to disaster preparedness response and recovery; provide the public with another avenue for insight into the agency’s operations; and engage in what has already become a critical medium in today’s world of communications.
• California - Brown Act references are California’s Open Public Meetings Act
  • California Promotes Secure, Appropriate Use of Social Media Sites for State Government, Issues Policy, California Office of State Chief Information Officer
  • State of California Office of the State Chief Information Officer Social Media Standard (), SIMM 66B, 02/2010
  • Haywood, CA Blog Policy: Official City of Hayward Blog Policy ()
• Roanoke County, VA Guidelines for the Use of Social Media by County Departments (), 05/2009
• Wake County, NC Web 2.0 - Guidelines for Use (), 09/2009 - For county employees

Targeting Specific Audiences

• Social Media and the Courts Resource Guide, National Center for State Courts
• Social Media and Young Adults, by Amanda Lenhart, Kristen Purcell, Aaron Smith, Kathryn Zickuhr, Peu Internet Reports 02/03/2010
• Social Networking and Web Tools, Web Junction - Online learning community for libraries
• You've Got Tweets, by Lauren Yost, Parks and Recreation, 02/2010 - E mail is so yesterday. Here's how social media is now driving innovative parks and recreation marketing communications. (Also available through MRSC Library Loan)

Citizen Reporting

• Boston Citizens Connect App - Helps constituents report potholes, graffiti, and other service issues
• Butkovitz Launches Philadelphia's First Fraud Reporting App, Press Release, Philadelphia, 03/19/2011 - Page includes video
• City and County of San Francisco Open311 Application

Use by Law Enforcement

• IACP Center for Social Media - International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) in partnership with the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. The goal of the initiative is to build the capacity of law enforcement to use social media to prevent and solve crimes, strengthen police-community relations, and enhance services. It serves as a clearinghouse of information and no-cost resources to help law enforcement personnel develop or enhance their agency’s use of social media and integrate Web 2.0 tools into agency operations.
• 2010 IACP Annual Conference: Legal materials, IACP Legal Officers Section (LOS), The International Association of Police Attorneys, Orlando, Florida, Oct. 23-27, 2010
  • Off-Duty, On-line Policing Your Officers on Social Media (), by Lynn Hightower, Boise, ID
  • Social Networking in Law Enforcement – Legal Issues (), by Martha Stonebrook, Salt Lake City, and Rick Stubbs, Denver
• Social Media in Policing: Nine Steps for Success, by Lauri Stevens, Department Chair, Web Design & Interactive Media, The New England Institute of Art, Boston, Massachusetts; and Principal at LAwS Communications, The Police Chief, 02/2010
• Social Networking Policies: Just Another Policy, by Eric P. Daigle, Attorney, Halloran & Sage, LLP, Hartford, Connecticut, The Police Chief, 05/2010

Need more information?

Feel free to Ask MRSC. Washington cities, counties, and our contract partners can call or email MRSC for more information and advice - free of charge.