The document discusses using social media to communicate with citizens where they are already engaging online. It advocates opening policy making discussions and communications across government departments to increase transparency and public participation. The author worked with an online community to crowdsource an open document on social media guidelines for government based on feedback and design principles. The goal was to start an ongoing discussion on adapting communications approaches and developing agile, open policies through an iterative process of listening to the public and continuously improving engagement.

1. Louise Kidney
Digital Engagement Lead
Government Digital Service
@loulouk

2. Social media
by default
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2

3. Open policy making
&
Agile
communications
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4. Communicate with citizens
where they already are
Use social media to consult and
engage
Increase the impact of your
communication
Be transparent & accountable
Be part of the conversation
The Civil Service Code
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5. Drafted using
existing guidelines
as basis
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6. Reviewed by
the community
at Teacamp
and on
stakeholder
blogs
(here be
dragons but the
good kind)

7. Community wanted visible
leadership
Permission
A trojan horse for culture change
Protection
Starting point for discussion
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8. That’s not what we
were delivering.
So...
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9. We started again
based on the
feedback, a vision
and the design
principles approach
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10. Result: Crowd
sourced document
owned by the
community
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11. More importantly,
open discussion
across all
Departments within
government
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12. Communicate with citizens
where they already are
Use social media to consult and
engage
Increase the impact of your
communication
Be transparent & accountable
Be part of the conversation
The Civil Service Code
Louise GDS 9

13. Part II
Open Agile
Communications
(or; trying to keep up
with the cool kids)
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14. The Civil Service
Reform Plan
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15. #bowlerhats

16. Comment is free?
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17. Facebook & Twitter chats
here be dragons of a different kind
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18. We learned a lot
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19. But most of all:
listen
iterate
deliver
listen
iterate
deliver
listen
iterate...
You get the idea
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20. Louise Kidney
Digital Engagement Lead
Government Digital Service
@loulouk
Image credits: Peregrinari (Flickr),
puffles2010 (Flickr)