FOSA Social Media Policy
This policy governs the publication of and commentary on social media by members of the Friends of the Office of State
Archaeology. For the purposes of this policy, social media means any facility for online publication and commentary,
including without limitation, blogs, wiki's, social networking sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Flickr, and
YouTube. This policy is in addition to and complements any existing or future policies regarding the use of technology,
computers, e-mail, and the internet.
FOSA members are free to publish or comment via social media in accordance with this policy. FOSA members are
subject to this policy to the extent they identify themselves as a FOSA member (other than as an incidental mention of
affiliation in a personal blog, post, etc. on topics unrelated to FOSA).
Publication and commentary on social media carries similar obligations to any other kind of publication or commentary.
All uses of social media must follow the same ethical standards that FOSA members must otherwise follow.
Setting up Social Media
Social media accounts will be set up with the oversight of the FOSA Board of Directors. Any member or members
designated to contribute on any social media format must be approved by the Board.
Protect your own Privacy
Privacy settings on social media platforms of individual users should be set to allow anyone to see profile
information similar to what would be in line with FOSA's values and image. Privacy settings that might allow others to
see information that is personal should be set to limit access. Be mindful of posting information that you would not want
the public to see.
Confidentiality
It is perfectly acceptable to talk about FOSA and have a dialog with the community, but it is not acceptable to
publish confidential information. Confidential information includes things such as unpublished details about excavations
that may endanger site integrity, site locations, and any other information from the State Archaeologist or FOSA members
that has been labeled as confidential.
Honesty
Do not blog or post anonymously, using pseudonyms or false screen names. We believe in transparency and honesty. Use
your real name, be clear who you are, and identify that you are associated with FOSA. Do not say anything that is
dishonest, untrue, or misleading. If you have a vested interest in something you are discussing, point it out. But also
be smart about protecting yourself and your privacy. What you publish will be around for a long time, so consider the
content carefully, and also be cautious about disclosing personal details.
Copyright
It is critical that you show proper respect for the laws governing copyright and fair use or far dealing of
copyrighted material owned by others, including FOSA's own copyrights and brands. You should never quote more than short
excerpts of someone else's work, and always attribute such work to the original author/source. It is good general practice
to link to other's work rather than reproduce it.
Respect
The public in general and our FOSA members reflect a diverse set of customs, values, and points of view. Do not be
afraid to be yourself, but do so respectfully. This includes not only the obvious (no ethnic slurs, offensive comments,
defamatory comments, personal insults, obscenity, etc.), but also proper consideration of privacy and of topics that may
be considered objectionable or inflammatory, such as politics and religion. Use your best judgment, and be sure to make
clear that the views and opinions expressed are yours alone and do not represent the official views of FOSA.
Controversial Issues
If you see misrepresentations made about FOSA in the media, you may point that out. Always do so with respect and
with the facts. If you speak about others, make sure what you say is factual and that it does not disparage that party.
Avoid arguments. Make sure what you are saying is factually accurate.
Mistakes
If you make an error, be up front about your mistake and correct it quickly. If you choose to modify an earlier post,
make it clear that you have done so. If someone accuses you of posting something improper (such as their copyrighted
material or a defamatory comment about them), deal with it quickly.
Social Media Tips
The following tips are not mandatory, but will contribute to successful use of social media.
The best way to be interesting, stay out of trouble, and have fun is to write about what you know. There is a good
chance of being embarrassed by a real expert, or of being boring if you write about topics you are not knowledgeable about.
The speed of being able to publish your thoughts is both a great feature and a great downfall of social media. The
time to edit or reflect must be self-imposed. If in doubt over a post, or if something does not feel right, either let it
sit and look at it again before publishing it, or ask someone else to look at it first.
Enforcement
Policy violations will be subject to FOSA Board of Director review and may result in the termination of that member's
privilege to use any kind of social media platform in the name of FOSA.
Maintenance
Passwords and administrative privileges to any of FOSA's social media platforms will be maintained by a member on the
Board of Directors or a FOSA member delegated the Board. The approved Board member or delegated non-Board member will
also be responsible for monitoring the proper use of any social media platform used by FOSA, and will bring any violations
to the attention of the Board immediately. Other FOSA members who would like to contribute to FOSA's social media
platforms on FOSA's behalf must be approved by the Board and sign this policy as an affirmation that they will adhere to
FOSA's social media plan.
By signing this Social Media Policy the person(s) approved by the Board of Directors agrees to adhere to all aspects
of the Policy. If a person violates any part of the Policy the Board reserves the right to revoke the person's privilege
to represent FOSA on any type of social media.
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Name
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Signature
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Date