Cornwall Council – Social Media

Visit: http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=28872

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Cornwall Council have published a couple of very useful documents – their sensible corporate Social Media Policy, and a ‘Social Media Passport’ showing the decisions and thinking they ask staff to go through before setting up their own social media channels:

Recognising the growth and potential of using social media as a communications tool, Cornwall Council adopted a Social Media Policy in 2010. We believe in trying to create a communications model that is as accessible, engaging, transparent and as cost effective to members of the public as possible. As such we see the emergence of social media tools such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Vimeo, and others, as a vital factor in this.

In the spirit of social media use, Cornwall Council has published its Social Media Policy for all viewers, both internal and external, to use and learn from, if they so desire.

The Policy is designed to help our staff and elected representatives realise the potential benefits, and pitfalls, of using social media and to help shape our current use and future development of it.

Once the social media policy has been read and understood, applicants who wish to proceed and use social media are required to complete a Social Media Passport application. This innovative step is designed to ensure that the council maintains an accurate and up-to-date record of which personnel or departments are using social media and that the communications service can offer advice and guidance if it is required.

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