Red Stitch - Melbourne Theatre - Policy - Online Engagement Policy

OVERVIEW 

Social media has blurred the lines between personal and professional time and space. It is important to understand that a person’s online media presence can have repercussions in both their personal and professional lives. This is particularly the case when one is easily identified as an employee or contractor of Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre 

The success of Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre depends upon maintaining a positive reputation in the general community and amongst its audience, supporters and patrons. While online platforms are powerful communication tools for individuals, they can significantly damage reputations if improperly used. 

Communications via online platforms must be managed carefully and be consistent with company policies, commercial needs and the Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre brand to minimise the risk of harming Red Stitch 

Actors’ Theatre’s image, its supporters, their privacy, or an employee’s professional reputation. 

OBJECTIVE 

This Policy sets out the appropriate behaviour and guidelines for all employees, as defined in the Code of Conduct, using online platforms to engage in discussions about Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre, whether in personal use or when representing Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre online through official channels. 

The purpose of this Policy is to: 

  • Clearly establish who has access to and authority to use the Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre’s Social Media tools, and the terms on which that access and use is granted 

  • To provide guidelines for conduct when using online platforms where any reference, whether direct or indirect, is made to Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre, including out of work hours 

  • To ensure that comments about Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre and our artistic peers made in the digital world are informed, polite, responsible and clear. 

APPLICATION 

This Policy relates to online platforms including but not limited to: 

  • Social networking sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter 

  • Video and photo sharing sites such as Instagram, Pinterest, Flickr and YouTube 

  • Personal blogging sites such as Tumblr, WordPress, Blogger and podcasts 

  • Corporate or opinion blogs hosted by traditional media publications 

  • Forums and discussion and bulletin boards such as Yahoo! Groups or Google Groups 

  • Online encyclopaedias and collaborations such as Wikipedia 

  • RSS feeds, instant messaging and geo-spatial tagging such as Foursquare 

  • Any future technologies allowing communication online or mobile communication between people 

PERSONAL ENGAGEMENT 

Employees who use their personal online profiles to make references to Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre, its people, products or services, and its competitors and peers in the live performance industry, are personally responsible and legally liable for the content they post. 

It is important that readers of your posts do not misconstrue your personal comments as representing an official Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre position. It is expected that any posts relating to your work at Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre adhere to the following requirements: 

  • Ensure you do not imply in any way that you are authorised to speak on Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre’s behalf. In some circumstances it is advisable to use a standard disclaimer such as “the postings on this site are my own opinions and views and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of [X].” 

  • Be polite and respectful of other opinions, even in times of heated discussion and debate 

  • Company logos and trademarks may not be used without explicit authority 

  • Ensure you have authority to make any Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre announcements 

  • Disclose only publicly available information. You must not comment on or disclose confidential information (such as casting, shows under consideration, financial information, business performance, future business plans, or the departure of key staff). If you require clarification about what Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre information is in the public domain, you should consult the General Manager 

  • Ensure you do not post material that is defamatory, pornographic, proprietary, harassing, bullying, threatening, discriminatory, libellous or hateful to another person or entity, including about Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre, its employees as defined in the Code of Conduct, its partners, its competitors and/or other business related individuals or organisations 

  • Be mindful of the importance of not damaging Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre’s reputation, interests and/or bringing Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre into disrepute. 

  • Ensure you do not respond to members of the public on Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre profiles. 

Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre AUTHORISED USERS 

Only Authorised Users may post on Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre branded profiles. 

Persons authorised to speak and post on behalf of Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre include: 

  • General Manager 

  • Artistic Director 

  • Marketing Department 

  • Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre staff given short-term permissions for projects, e.g. FOH staff 

  • A nominated Board member/s 

BREACH OF POLICY 

Breaching this policy shall be deemed as a breach of contract. 

RELATED RED STITCH ACTORS’ THEATRE POLICIES 

ALSO AVAILABLE

CODE OF CONDUCT

DISCRIMINATION, HARASSMENT, SEXUAL HARASSMENT & WORKPLACE BULLYING POLICY 

WHISTLEBLOWER POLICY

HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY

ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUGS POLICY

PRIVACY POLICY

REPORTING, COMPLAINT HANDLING & INVESTIGATION PROCEDURES

TICKETING TERMS & CONDITIONS