1 Radio Communications Expert Group Inspector John Ferris Garda
Press Office Slide 2 2 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) Slide 3 3 Overview 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 Slide 4 4 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 Slide 5 5 The Media Slide 6 6 Slide 7 7 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 7 National Sunday
Newspapers 110 Local / Regional Newspapers Slide 8 8 And dont
forget Journel.ie Web-based News Sites Indiemedia.ie Web-based News
Sites Indiemedia.iePolitics.ie The citizen news gatherer iPhone /
Smartphone The citizen news gatherer iPhone / Smartphone Social
Networking Facebook, Twitter, You Tube, Instagram etc Social
Networking Facebook, Twitter, You Tube, Instagram etc Slide 9 9
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. Baileys Irish
Cream (1.4m fans) 50. Love/Hate (RTE) 93,000 fans Slide 10 10
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 Slide 11
11 An article that appeared in the Irish Times on Friday 1 st 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 Slide 12 12 The mass
effects and speed of social media on a Garda investigation. Slide
13 13 At 9.30pm on Friday 25 th 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. Slide 14 Time on Tweet is Pacific Standard Time -8 hrs
GMT 14 At 10.20 PM GMT the first Tweet about the murder was sent
(50 minutes after the shooting) Slide 15 Time on Tweet is Pacific
Standard Time -8 hrs GMT 15 At 10.22 PM GMT the second tweet about
the murder was sent (52 minutes after the shooting) Slide 16 Time
on Tweet is Pacific Standard Time -8 hrs GMT 16 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) Slide 17 17 At 10.53pm the Garda Press
Office issue a Press Release (82 minutes after the shooting)
Serious Shooting Incident Dundalk - 25th January 2013 Garda 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. Garda 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. 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.
Garda 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. Garda 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. Further information
to follow. Ref: 0081/13 Issued by Garda Press Office on 25/01/2013
22:53:18 Slide 18 Time on Tweet is Pacific Standard Time -8 hrs GMT
18 At 10.55 PM GMT the first Tweet that names D/Garda Donohoe was
sent (85 minutes after the shooting) Slide 19 19 The speed of
social media another example. Slide 20 20 At 4.09pm on 4 th
December 2012, Garda 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. Slide 21 Time on Tweet is
Pacific Standard Time -8 hrs GMT 21 At 4.34pm GMT the Independent
sent the Tweet below naming the deceased (29 minutes after the
shooting) Slide 22 22 The public use social media to spread
information, that may effect a current Garda
operation/investigation. The public use social media to spread
information, that may effect a current Garda
operation/investigation. Public may go to the scene ? Slide 23 23
Ballycotton: 16 November 2010 Slide 24 24 Ballycotton: 16 November
2010 @EoinBearla Eoin English: Journalist with the Irish Examiner
and making-it-up-as-he- goes-along father of two. (Tweets are my
own) [website is www.irishexaminer.ie] 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 AM11:12 AM RedFM10toNews Britain's Prince William engaged to
Kate Middleton -- wedding set for 2011 via web Retweeted by
EoinBearla RedFM10toNewsEoinBearla 11:12 AMRedFM10toNewsEoinBearla
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. Slide 25 25 Slide 26 26 At 10.45pm on the 23 rd
of June 2011, Garda in Rathmines receive a report of an alleged
sexual assault in a nightclub on Rathmines Road Lower, Dublin 6.
Slide 27 27 This tweet was sent the following day 24 th June 2011
Slide 28 28 The Tweet below was sent by 98FM about the incident on
24 th June 2011 Slide 29 29 At 7pm on Sunday 3 rd 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. Slide 30 30 The
following tweet was sent at 7.00pm (28 minutes after the shooting)
Slide 31 31 Slide 32 32 Slide 33 33 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 Slide 34 34 Engaging
with the Media Why? Slide 35 35 General Principles Support
investigations Support investigations Support overall Garda
objectives Support overall Garda objectives Highlight good work and
successes Highlight good work and successes Build public confidence
Build public confidence Provide reassurance Provide reassurance
Slide 36 36 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 Slide 37 37 The Garda Press Office tweet
information regularly informing the public of traffic disruption
Slide 38 38 Tweetdeck We see whos talking Slide 39 39 Slide 40 40
Slide 41 41 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 FEAR OF CRIME Slide 42 42 Social
Media Global Merging of Standards, practices. Service Providers-
Global Policing approaches Vary- images etc Slide 43 43 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 Slide 44 44 Future- Future- Provide
information USER wants, in format, within time line they want.
Traditional Press and Social media. 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
