New guidelines for emergency management and social media published

A guideline document on how to integrate social media in emergency preparedness planning has just been published after weeks of hard work.

Kortom, a non profit organisation bringing together more than 700 government communicators invited me to collaborate on this new guidelines some months ago. Together with other very motivated volunteers we split up in working groups around the topic os social media and emergency management.

The trigger for this was the dramatic event at Pukkelpop where several concert visitors died. Although the work groups didn't specifically focus on using social media at concerts or large scale events, the recommendations can definitely apply there as well.

The recommendation guidelines have just now been translated in English an I can share them here as well as on the Emergency Wiki where I also contribute on this topic.

Several focus areas are being discussed in this guidelines; from preparedness to organisational aspects over how to effectively integrate social media channels for crisis communications.

The document should make its way to several government levels like cities and provinces and hopefully will be read and implemented by most.

Feedback is still welcome; either by emailing info@kortom.be or sending a tweet with the hash tag #smic

It was really a pleasure for me to work with the team in my group and I do hope these kind of initiatives will continue to grow and receive the attention they deserve. At the end of the day, if well implemented and managed, they save lives.

Guest blogpost: Social Media Degrees

The internet and social media especially have changed the ways people around the world interact.

Organizations have gone ahead to make millions in profits by simply incorporating social media in their marketing campaigns. Everyone is now taking notice of social media as powerful communication and advertising tools.

However, there's no standard operation manual users all get. Figuring out successful social media use involves a lot of trial and error, burning of fingers, and learning of lessons along the way.

It is against this background that some universities and colleges have developed courses in social media practices, culminating in either bachelor's or master's degrees. A good percentage of people are still not convinced these degrees are worth tuition, and it's understandable given how fast the digital world evolves.

However, for anyone hoping to succeed in using social media in business or corporate interactions, such a course of study can at the least be a valuable foundation.

The Northeastern University’s College of Professional Studies offers a series of social media courses in their master’s in corporate and organizational communication program. Students undertaking this course will cover areas such as:

• Introduction to the Digital Era, which basically touches on the power of social media, their concepts, potential applications in different organizations, career management responsibilities, and social media leadership. Students get the opportunity to apply the concepts learned and assess the digital presence of others.
• Social Medial Skills, which surveys tools and techniques used and platforms available. Students learn social media strategies for effective engagement in public and private contexts.
• Management of Social Media Channels. Students lean how to establish and grow an organization’s presence across different online platforms, define metrics for short- and long-term success, manage online communities, and know how and when to revise strategies in line with feedback received.

As anyone who's ever tried to operate an online business will affirm, online success doesn't just happen. You have to know how to blend with people’s ideals, sell your idea without imposing, and most importantly, provide a solution to your online community. Social media can boost your success, but they can also be your downfall when used incorrectly. This is what degree courses dedicated to social media aim to educate students on.

Antonelli College covers this and more in its social media management degree program. The course is based on the growing necessity for social media in business marketing and equips students with knowledge and skills necessary for emerging social media careers.

Birmingham City University was among the first universities to offer graduate programs in social media. Its MA in social media program explores social media techniques and research.

The aforementioned social media degrees are becoming prominent at a time when startups and established companies are reaping the benefits of social media marketing. Despite its tangible benefits, there is a huge debate among marketing and PR professionals as to whether social media is exclusively a marketing initiative or if it’s a general PR initiative.

Depending on the requirements of marketing efforts, social media may or may not be included in general marketing curriculums. An argument could be made that social media tools should be used liberally by entire companies to enhance its brand image and personality towards its consumers.

In that sense, employees, marketing departments, PR departments, and management figures, may all have roles in pushing out the company’s message through social media outlets. This would push for an education model that incorporates social media marketing techniques into general marketing and business curriculums.

On the other hand, some social media marketers view the trade as an art in itself. In-depth techniques are used to use search engine optimization, social networking, and technical proficiency to push through “viral” marketing campaigns. In this light, social media programs should be delineated from traditional marketing degrees.

Regardless of the institution, it's important for students to examine program details and curriculum before enrolling, to ensure a social media degree provides valuable information and know-how.

Some courses are too shallow, touching on issues students likely already know from their online interactions or can easily learn independently. However, a well-researched social media degree is invaluable.

Blogpost by Elaine Hirsch

Video Interviews: using Social Media for Crisis Communications

Here are 3 interviews from the conference on using social media for crisis communications which was organised by the Belgian chapter of the IABC in Brussels recently.

Thanks to the great people at ZN for taping this.

First Aurelie Valtat, who is responsible for online communications for the European Council.

Also Caroline Sapriel, from CS&A who has years of experience in crisis & risk management had some really good insight.

And here's my take on things..

For a really detailed overview of the whole event and the best quotes, do check out Aurelie Valtat's blog.