Radio Communications Expert Group
Inspector John Ferris
Garda Press Office
1
Overview
Why do we engage with media?
The impact of social media ?
How An Garda Siochana use ?
Media Strategy ( the role Social Media can play)
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Overview
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Types and Use of Social Media by AGS
Public awareness of Social Media
Channels used by AGS
Operational Benefits
AGS Experience with Social Media
Training / Resources / Cost
Policy on Social Media
Lesson Learned by AGS
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News and Media Management
• Release of Information on:
-Serious Crime Incidents
-RTCs (traffic management)
-Missing Persons
-Witness appeals
• Responding to Media Queries on incidents, policy,
statistics
• Bids re interviews, facilities, documentaries,
current affairs
• Rebuttal
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The Media
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A crowded market place
•
3 National TV Stations –
RTE1; Network2; TV3.
•
4 National Radio channels –
RTE 1; 2 FM; Today FM; Newstalk.
•
48 Local radio Channels
•
7 National Daily Newspapers
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7 National Sunday Newspapers
• 110 Local / Regional Newspapers
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And don’t forget …
Journel.ie
• Web-based News Sites
Indiemedia.ie
Politics.ie
• The “citizen news gatherer” iPhone /
Smartphone
• Social Networking – Facebook,
Twitter, You Tube, Instagram etc
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Social Media in Numbers
2012 Most Popular Tweet of the Year
“Four more years” @BarackObama
(Nov 6, 2012) Retweeted 810,000 times
Most Popular Irish Facebook Pages
1. U2 (13m fans)
4. Bailey’s Irish Cream (1.4m fans)
50. Love/Hate (RTE) 93,000 fans
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Social Media in Numbers
Facebook Irish Users
Of its 2.3m registered users, women are the
majority on Facebook here with 53pc female
user and 47pc male users compared to 26pc
and 74pc in Iraq and 55pc and 45pc in New
Zealand
Age Profile
The largest age group of Irish Facebook users is
currently aged 25-34, followed by the users in
the age of 18-24.
Number of Irish Twitter Accounts – 570,000
10
An article that appeared in the Irish Times
on Friday 1st March 2013 titled
“Smartphone overtakes TV as primary
screen” stated:
“A study by Verizon in the US, for
instance, found that 65% of people
watching the presidential election on
television last November did so with
either a laptop, tablet or smartphone”
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The mass effects and speed of
social media on a Garda
investigation.
12
At 9.30pm on Friday
25th January 2013, a
shooting incident
occurred outside
Lordship Credit Union
in Bellurgan, Co.
Dundalk.
Tragically Detective
Garda Adrian Donohoe
was fatally wounded at
the scene.
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At 10.20 PM GMT the first Tweet
about the murder was sent
(50 minutes after the shooting)
Time on Tweet is Pacific Standard Time
-8 hrs GMT
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At 10.22 PM GMT the second tweet about the
murder was sent
(52 minutes after the shooting)
Time on Tweet is Pacific Standard Time
-8 hrs GMT
15
At 10.32 PM GMT the first Tweet from the Media
was sent (62 minutes after the shooting)
A person replies 2 minutes later naming Detective
Garda Adrian Donohoe as the victim)
Time on Tweet is Pacific Standard Time
-8 hrs GMT
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At 10.53pm the Garda Press Office issue a
Press Release
(82 minutes after the shooting)
Serious Shooting Incident Dundalk - 25th January 2013
Gardaí in Dundalk are investigating a shooting incident which occurred in
Dundalk at approximately 9.30pm this evening (25/1/13). The incident
occurred outside the Lordship Credit Union at Bellurgan, Jenkinstown,
Dundalk, Co Louth.
A number of shots were fired during the incident resulting in the serious
injury of a Detective Garda attached to Dundalk Garda Station. A dark
coloured car left the scene in the direction of Dundalk. At this stage we
believe four people were in this car.
Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to this incident to contact the incident
room at Dundalk Garda Station at 042-9388400, the Garda Confidential
Number 1-800-666-111.
Further information to follow.
Ref: 0081/13 Issued by Garda Press Office on 25/01/2013 22:53:18
17
At 10.55 PM GMT the first Tweet that names
D/Garda Donohoe was sent
(85 minutes after the shooting)
Time on Tweet is Pacific Standard Time
-8 hrs GMT
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The speed of social media
another example .
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At 4.09pm on 4th December 2012,
Gardaí in Raheny received a call that a
man was shot on Furry Park Road in
Killester.
The deceased was Eamon Kelly and he
was fatally wounded at the scene.
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At 4.34pm GMT the Independent sent the
Tweet below naming the deceased
(29 minutes after the shooting)
Time on Tweet is Pacific Standard Time
-8 hrs GMT
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The public use social media to spread
information, that may effect a current
Garda operation/investigation.
Public may go to the scene ?
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Ballycotton: 16 November 2010
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Ballycotton: 16 November 2010
@EoinBearla
Eoin English: Journalist with the Irish Examiner and making-it-up-as-hegoes-along father of two. (Tweets are my own) [website is
www.irishexaminer.ie]
11.05 a.m. Hearing reports of what appears to be a dreadful tragedy in East
Cork – two children and a man involved. Details as they emerge.
11:12 AM RedFM10toNews Britain's Prince William engaged to Kate
Middleton -- wedding set for 2011 via web Retweeted by EoinBearla
11.30 a.m. 2 kids under 10 found dead in a house near Ballycotton. Man
found dead nearby short time later. Burned out car nearby linked to tragedy.
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At 10.45pm on the 23rd of June 2011, Gardaí
in Rathmines receive a report of an alleged
sexual assault in a nightclub on Rathmines
Road Lower, Dublin 6.
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This tweet was sent the following
day 24th June 2011
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The Tweet below was sent by 98FM about
the incident on 24th June 2011
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At 7pm on Sunday 3rd March 2013, a man
was shot in Cabra House Pub on
Fassaugh Avenue.
The deceased was Paul Cullen and was
fatally wounded at the scene.
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The following tweet was sent at 7.00pm
(28 minutes after the shooting)
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Twitter @gardatraffic
Disseminate information
Recognised source of information
Only issue relatively significant traffic
issues
Cost effective but requires dedicated
resources at times ?
Terms of Engagement - Not constantly
monitored
Accuracy is key, road reopens etc
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Engaging with the
Media
Why?
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General Principles
• Support investigations
• Support overall Garda objectives
• Highlight good work and
successes
• Build public confidence
• Provide reassurance
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An Investigative Media
Strategy
•Have regard for the victim, the victims family
and friends
•Consider community impact with particular
regard for fear of crime
•Disseminate Crime Prevention advice
where appropriate
• Demonstrate professionalism of investigation
and organisation, provide reassurance
and build community confidence
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The Garda Press Office tweet information regularly
informing the public of traffic disruption
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Tweetdeck
We see who’s talking
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Timely Accurate Information
Tetra radio
Mobile phones, images etc
Spotlight –Press Office Mgnt Software
Email
Twitter- Traffic,
Texting- pilot basis
Facebook,- New initiatives seeking observations
Flickr- Seeking owners of property
Youtube press briefing, Fraud scams etc
Web site –www.garda.ie
Need for Policy – who is responsible.
“FEAR OF CRIME”
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Social Media
Global
Merging of Standards , practices.
Service Providers- Global
Policing approaches Vary- images etc
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Challenge and Opportunity
• Reality check - media are interested and will
seek out information wherever they can find it,
twitter, facebook, iphones
• Explore the opportunity this presents for your
operation
•Private use employees on work issues
•Home address/details of employees
•Policy -Compliance with legislation with
personal data.
•Social Media –Communication Policy (Technical
side play minor part- provide infrastructure
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Future- Provide information USER wants,
in format, within time line they want.
Traditional Press and Social media.
Blend – information in format - User wants,
Recognising –
– Linking tweets to web site
Q and A inform media and public
Breaking news will be social media
Police response to media will NEED to get shorter.
Need to monitor –social media is uncontrolled
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