HomeMy WebLinkAboutPS 2017-10-02 Item 2B - Discussion - Fire Department Social Media NetworkingCity of Tukwila
Allan Ekberg, Mayor
INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM
TO: Public Safety Council Committee
FROM: Jay C Wittwer, Fire Chief and Marty Grisham, Battalion Chief PIO
BY: Jay C Wittwer, Fire Chief
CC: Mayor Allan Ekberg
DATE: September 27, 2017
SUBJECT: Twitter Account for the Tukwila Fire Department
ISSUE
As part of the Fire Department 2017 work plan a process is being proposed to better meet the
need of providing information regarding public safety and general information. The assumption of
providing information to the public, as well as media outlets, will reduce the overall efforts to keep
the public informed in the event of day to day issues and largescale events, i.e. official media
releases.
BACKGROUND
The Tukwila Police Department has demonstrated success with an official Twitter account.
Other fire departments in the region have established Twitter accounts and report positive
responses from the public. The Tukwila Fire Department administrative team has been
investigating Social Media as an option to better keep the public informed. Open discussions
have also been held with the Fire Fighter's Union regarding social media.
DISCUSSION
The propose of presenting this subject to the Public Safety Committee is to provide information
and receive feedback from the committee regarding this subject.
A written policy is attached to this memo for review and to inform the committee on the process
of establishing and operating a Twitter account for the Tukwila Fire Department.
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TWITTER
OVERVIEW/PURPOSE/SCOPE
A. The purpose of this document is to outline the procedure for operating the
Tukwila Fire Department's Twitter account. TFD will use Twitter to:
1. Connect with the City of Tukwila community.
2. Provide timely news and information.
3. Share who TFD is and what it does for the City of Tukwila.
B. Technology has influenced all aspects of life. News and events are now
communicated using social media platforms. The City encourages departments
to share information through official channels including but not limited to City
Twitter accounts.
ll. DEFINITIONS:
A. Electronic Communications - Any communication transmitted electronically via
the use of the electronic communications resources. Examples include but are
not limited to email, instant messages, social media postings, and speech to text.
B. Social Media - Is the term given to websites, online tools and interactive
communication technologies that allow users to interact with one another to
share information, opinions, knowledge, photos and interests. Examples of social
media include such web platforms as blogs, message boards, wikis, social and
professional networking websites, and content sharing sites.
C. Twitter - Twitter is a free social networking microblogging service that allows
registered members to broadcast short posts called tweets. Twitter members can
broadcast tweets and follow other users' tweets by using multiple platforms and
devices. The default settings for Twitter are public. Unlike Facebook or Linkedln,
where members need to approve social connections, anyone can follow anyone
on public -Twitter. Tweets, which may include hyperlinks, are limited to 140
characters due to the constraints of Twitter's Short Message Service (SMS)
delivery system. To weave tweets into a conversation thread or connect them to
a general topic, members can add hashtags to a keyword in their post. Tweets
may also include photos or videos.
D. Microblogging - Microblogging is a broadcast medium that exists in the form of
blogging. A microblog differs from a traditional blog in that its content is typically
smaller in both actual and aggregated file size. Microblogs allow users to
exchange small elements of content such as short sentences, individual images,
or video links.
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E. Hashtag - A hashtag is a type of label or metadata tag used on social network
and microblogging services which makes it easier for users to find messages
with a specific theme or content. Users create and use hashtags by placing the
hash character # (also known as the number sign or pound sign) in front of a
word or un -spaced phrase, either in the main text of a message or at the end.
Searching for that hashtag will yield each message that has been tagged with it.
A hashtag archive is consequently collected into a single stream under the same
hashtag. For example, on the photo -sharing service Instagram, the hashtag
#bluesky allows users to find all the posts that have been tagged using that
hashtag.
F. Video Streaming - Streaming video is content sent in compressed form over the
Internet and displayed by the viewer in real time. With streaming video or
streaming media, a Web user does not have to wait to download a file to play it.
Instead, the media is sent in a continuous stream of data and is played as it
arrives. The user needs a player, which is a special program that decompresses
and sends video data to the display and audio data to speakers. A player can be
either an integral part of a browser or downloaded from the software maker's
Web site.
III. PROCEDURES/ GUIDELINE:
A. Twitter can be used to disseminate emergency and non -emergency information.
Below are examples of emergency information TFD could report on Twitter
before, during, or after an incident or significant event.
1. Incident response information, including the number of units and
personnel on scene.
2. Appropriate human interest or safety information.
3. Nature of the incident and expertise of the fire personnel deployed (high
rise, technical rescue, etc.).
4. A description of any particular hazards present at the incident.
5. Identification of life-saving or heroic acts that may have occurred
including any rescue scenarios.
6. Projected duration of the incident.
7. Safety concerns present.
8. Actions citizens can take to increase safety or minimize the impacts of the
event or hazard on the community.
B. Twitter can also be used to post relevant non -emergency related information
from any one of the department's four Divisions: Administrative, Prevention and
Operations (see IV. Responsibilities). The following information can be shared:
1. Department training events, exercises, lectures, classes or activities.
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2. Internal department events and activities, such as promotional
ceremonies, member recognition, award presentations, meetings,
seminars, workshops, and other activities involving department members.
3. Public events, such as safety seminars, fire station open house events,
Fire Prevention education events and activities, school safety
presentations, and club or service organization events.
4. Emergency Preparedness information.
C. Twitter is a powerful communication tool and good judgment must be used. The
information that is sent out must reflect the department's Mission and Values
while being sensitive to citizen needs and individual rights. Therefore, images or
video that portray the following shall not be tweeted:
1. Victims' names, faces or other identify information in text, photo or video.
2. Any patient privacy regulations defined in current policies.
3. Identifying personal information such as license plate numbers, house
address numbers, and any other identifying information. Apps like Blur
Effect can be used to blur this type of information before posting.
4. Due to the inability to review and edit content, live stream video is
prohibited.
5. Anything deemed to be in poor taste and/or in violation of the Code of
Conduct, as determined by the Fire Chief.
D. The following are prohibited on City of Tukwila social media sites:
1. Posts and comments that include vulgar, offensive, threatening or
harassing language, personal attacks or unsupported accusations.
2. Posts and comments not related to the original topic, including random or
unintelligible comments.
3. Posts and comments that are not factual or accurate.
4. Posts and comments that promote, foster or perpetuate discrimination on
the basis of creed, color, age, religion, gender, marital status, national
origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, or any other status
protected by law.
5. Posts and comments that promote or advertise commercial services,
unless the advertising is generated by the third -party social media service
in such a manner that the City cannot block the advertising.
6. Political comments promoting or opposing any person campaigning for
election to a political office or promoting or opposing ballot propositions.
7 Religious statements, including comments that endorse or oppose any
type of religion, religious opinions or activities.
8. Obscene or sexual content or links to obscene or sexual content.
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9. Conduct in violation of any federal, state or local law, or encouragement
of illegal activity.
10. Information that could compromise the safety or security of the public or
public systems.
11. Content that could violate the legal ownership interest of any other party.
12. Content that could compromise an ongoing investigation.
IV. RESPONSIBILITIES:
A. Each division within TFD will have administrative access including the ability to
post to and edit the Department's Twitter account.
1. Administrative - BC/P10 Grisham.
2. Fire Prevention - TBD.
3. Operations.
a) A Shift
b) B Shift
c) C Shift
d) Captain - Fire Prevention
e) Captain - Fire Training
4. Emergency Management
B. Lanes of traffic.
1. Tukwila Fire
a) Information from Fire Department
b) Fire, EMS services
2. Local 2088
a) Information from Union
b) Off duty activities/community events
3. Tukwila Police
a) Violent incidents
b) Motor Vehicle Accidents
c) Ongoing Investigations
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V. REFERENCES:
A. TFD Policy
1. TBD
2. TBD
3. TBD
B. City Policy
1. TBD
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