Social Media Guidelines

Social Media Guidelines

Polar Knowledge Canada (POLAR)

INTRODUCTION

Social media offers POLAR a powerful tool for interactive communication with its partners and stakeholders, in Canada and internationally. Social media, especially Facebook, is widely used in the North for communication both within and among communities. POLAR currently uses Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube social media platforms.

These guidelines will assist POLAR staff to make effective and appropriate use of social media in support of POLAR’s objectives and consistent with the Government of Canada Guideline on Acceptable Device and Network Use.

KINDS OF SOCIAL MEDIA USE

There are three kinds of social media uses – personal, professional, and official. Understanding the differences between them is helpful in knowing how to use social media appropriately as a Government of Canada employee.

Professional

Communicating with professional associations, professional networking gathering and sharing knowledge.

• Example: A POLAR Science Officer comments on the Facebook page of the Association of Polar Early Career Scientists on the subjects of his or her area of expertise and without reference to their role as an employee of POLAR.

Official

Communicating on behalf of an organization. Only those individuals who have been authorized to represent the Government of Canada can use official social media accounts.

• Example: A member of the POLAR Communications Team posts a tweet on POLAR’s Twitter page.

Personal

Using a personal social media account for purposes unrelated to professional development or employment. This type of use must be conducted on personal time.

• Example: Outside of work hours a POLAR staff member posts a photo of Cambridge Bay without reference to his or her role as an employee of POLAR.

PERSONAL SOCIAL MEDIA AND POLAR

The networks, devices and social media platforms used for professional purposes are sometimes the same ones used for personal activities, potentially blurring the boundaries between the professional and the personal. We know that people want to share their experiences on social media, however the best way to support POLAR on social media is by liking, sharing, and re-tweeting posts from the POLAR official pages.

Can POLAR employees use their own social media accounts to promote POLAR information?

Yes -- by sharing, liking, or retweeting approved content that has already been posted on official POLAR social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram).

Here are a few things to avoid:

• Do not copy and paste POLAR content and post it as your own.
• Do not reply to other comments that have been made on POLAR’s social media posts. (Including do not like or share other comments)
• Do not create and post social media content that gives the impression that you are a spokesperson for POLAR.
• Do not comment on POLAR posts.

In your personal neutral posts, you may still use the POLAR tags:

If you notice that someone is posting negative comments online about POLAR:

• Contact the POLAR Communications Team at communications@polar.gc.ca. They will deal with the situation.
• Do not post any response or reaction to this content yourself.

SUGGESTIONS WELCOME

The POLAR Communications Team is always looking for informative, engaging, and timely content for social media – whether about POLAR’s activities, information of interest to the polar research community, or upcoming events and publications. Your ideas and suggestions are very much appreciated!

POLAR COMMUNICATIONS TEAM CONTACTS

Lynn Berrouard, Manager, External Communications
Tel.: 613-292-1759 Email: lynn.berrouard@polar.gc.ca

Marie-Eve LaRocque, Manager, Internal Communications
Tel.: 613-402-4897 Email: marie-eve.larocque@polar.gc.ca

John Bennett, Communications Specialist
Tel.: 613- 222-9547 Email: john.bennett@polar.gc.ca

General email address: communications@polar.gc.ca

SOCIAL MEDIA ADDRESSES

• Twitter
  @POLARCanada (English)    @POLAIRECanada (French)
• Facebook
  Polar Knowledge Canada (English)    Savoir polaire Canada (French)
• Instagram
  polar.knowledge (English)    savoir.polaire (French)