Social Media Policy

WLU Student Publications recognizes the increasing importance of social media and wants to ensure that employees and volunteers recognize the implications of their activities on social media sites to WLUSP, its brand, its reputation and content.

1.0 – Definitions

1.1 Account – a registered individualized service within any social media or social networking site specified to one individual, group, brand, event, or product.

1.2 User – an account holder within a specific social media or social networking site.

1.3 Social Media (Social Network) – media services accessible through the Internet and to a number of sources. These can include, but are not limited to, blogs (ie. WordPress, Blogger), micro blogs (ie.Twitter), Social Networks (ie. Facebook, LinkedIn, Myspace, Friendster), Multimedia Sharing Services (ie. Flickr, Instagram, Youtube), and Geolocation Services (ie. Foursquare).

1.4  Post – publishing content on a social media site or service.

1.5  Department – any service or sub-organization within WLUSP recognized as a “Department” in the WLUSP Financial Management Policy

1.6 Operation – any service, section, show, segment or other product of a WLUSP department.

1.7 Hashtags – a specific identifier created with alphanumeric characters used in social media to categorize and or identify specific conversations from others. Hashtags use no spaces and typically begin with number sign “#”

1.8 Tagging – identifying a specific user or account in a way that will notify the user or account within an exchange within a social network or social media.

1.9 Retweeting – reproducing a post from another user.

2.0 Social Media Accounts

The WLUSP Social Media Policy applies to the following accounts:

2.1 Level A – WLUSP Accounts

• 2.1.1 WLUSP Accounts associated with WLUSP and represent its departments and operations. Select members of Student Publications control these accounts. WLUSP reserves the right to retain all up to date passwords to these accounts and have final say over anything posted.

2.2 Level B – WLUSP Affiliated Accounts

• 2.2.1  Affiliated Accounts are any accounts that are affiliated with a department of WLUSP and advertised as such. These include, but are not limited to, accounts that represent specific radio shows or newspaper columns. These accounts must be approved by a department head and are continually monitored.
• 2.2.2  Content of these accounts must be consistent with the content of the show, column, etc. that it represents.
• 2.2.3 WLUSP reserves the right to request the removal or modification of posts, and where necessary the closure of accounts.

2.3 Level C – Personal Accounts

• 2.3.1  WLUSP respects the right of volunteers and employees to maintain personal accounts on social networking sites
• 2.3.2  Personal accounts governed by this policy are accounts that belong to an individual and state that they are a volunteer or employee of WLUSP, or that they are in some way affiliated with WLUSP. This includes accounts that are advertised on-air, in a WLUSP publication, or on a WLUSP associated website.
• 2.3.3  Inclusion of a disclaimer does not preclude a personal account from being governed by this policy.

3.0 – General Post Guidelines

3.1  All post’s must reflect WLUSP’s values, code of ethics and must be done in accordance with any other WLUSP policies.

3.2  As a general rule, if you would not broadcast it or publish it in a WLUSP publication it should not be posted on a social networking site.

3.3  Keep in mind the best practices of the social networking site you’re using.

4.0 – Confidentiality

4.1  Employees / Volunteers of WLUSP are often privy to information before it is made public. They are prohibited from disclosing any information on a social networking site prior to it being published or broadcast.

4.2  Confidentiality agreements signed by volunteers and employees of WLUSP extend to social networking sites.

5.0 – Errors

5.1  Be transparent when making any corrections or modifications to posts on social networking sites. Use the proper terminology and best practices for the medium you are using.

5.2  Where applicable identify corrections with the appropriate abbreviations or remarks (ie. “CX” precedes a twitter post identifying it as a correction to an earlier post).

6.0 – Retweeting/Reposting and Citations

6.1  Use proper terminology and follow best practices for the social networking site you are using when reposting or retweeting a post made by another user.

6.2  Ensure quotes by those who are not you are properly formatted and cited. When possible, tag the source on the social networking site you are using.

6.3  For Twitter WLUSP staff must identify retweets with the following abbreviations preceding the post:
“RT” – identifies a complete unedited Retweet from another user “MT” – identifies a modified Retweet from another user
“PRT” – identifies a partial Retweet. In this case parentheses are also recommend

7.0 – Live-tweeting/Live-Posting

7.1 Use best practices when live-tweeting or posting about an event on a social networking site

7.2 Ensure you are using Hashtags and that content is original

8.0 – Photographs

8.1  WLUSP reserves the right to post photographs from public events on social networking sites

8.2  Use discretion when posting commentary and names with photographs

8.3  Request’s to remove names of subjects of photographs on any social networking site will be honored