This document outlines elements that news organizations should consider including in a social media policy. It provides examples of social media policies from several newspapers that emphasize maintaining integrity and credibility as a journalist, avoiding bias, and protecting the reputation of the news organization. The document also lists common elements that a social media policy may include, such as guidelines for identifying oneself as an employee, promoting transparency, handling breaking news, and disciplinary actions for infractions.

1. Social Media Policies
Mandy Jenkins || Michael Roberts

4. Rules Values
Social Media
Policy

5. Values
ethics -- moral principles that govern a
person's or group's behavior
morals -- a person's standards of behavior
or beliefs concerning what is and is not
acceptable for them to do

6. Values
credibility – the quality, capability, or power
to elicit belief; quality of being believed or
trusted
bias – a preference or inclination, especially
one that inhibits impartial judgment

7. Avoid publishing anything, even in the
somewhat loosely guarded confines of Facebook,
that compromises the integrity of the news
organization, our coverage or the public's
perception of them as an independent, fair
journalist.
-- Salem News (2010)

8. Always abide by U.S. Community Publishing’s
Principles of Ethical Conduct for Newsrooms.
These Principles are centered on the following
themes:
• By seeking and reporting the truth in a truthful
way
• Serving the public interest
• Exercising fair play
• Maintaining independence
• Acting with integrity
-- Arizona Republic

9. When using social networks such as
Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc., for reporting or
for our personal lives, we must protect our
professional integrity and remember:
Washington Post journalists are always
Washington Post journalists.
-- Washington Post

10. Maintain credibility: Post journalists must
refrain from writing, tweeting or posting anything
— including photographs or video — that could
be perceived as reflecting political, racial, sexist,
religious or other bias or favoritism.
-- Washington Post

12. Elements of social media policy

13. Rules Values
Social Media
Policy

14. Elements of social media policy
• Definition of social media / social networking
• Company philosophy on social media
• Company versus private social media
channels
• When / how identify yourself as company
employee

15. Elements of social media policy
• Promoting transparency
• Avoiding real or apparent conflicts of interest /
bias
• Protocol for including links, link verification
• Breaking news guidelines: Should you break
news on social media?

16. Elements of social media policy
• Corrections policy
• Terms of service & copyright rules
• Expectations / goals for using social media
• Disciplinary action(s) for infractions

17. Exercise: Social media scenarios

18. Discussion
(1) What is the problem the situation raises?
(2) What could be included in a social
media policy to help avoid or offer guidance
on how to deal with the situation?