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City of Newport News Section 1410
Personnel Administrative Manual Effective January 1, 2021
A. All City policies, rules, regulations, and standards of conduct apply to employees that
engage in social media activities while conducting City business. Use of a City e-mail
address and communicating in an official capacity constitutes conducting City business.
All posts and responses to posts made on the City’s behalf shall be done through a City
account, not a personal one.
All requests to establish a social networking site to conduct City business shall be made
to the Department of Communications after receiving Department Director approval.
B. Department Directors have the option of allowing employees to participate in existing City
social media sites as part of their job duties.
C. Employees posting as a City spokesperson shall not write any content or postings that
involve or are related to the following:
• Potential or actual litigation, including administrative proceedings, involving the
City or its employees.
• Non-public information of any kind.
• Illegal or banned substances and narcotics.
• Pornography or other offensive illegal materials.
• Defamatory, libelous, offensive or demeaning material. Don’t engage in a
combative exchange.
• Private/personal matters of yourself or others.
• Disparaging/threatening comments about or related to anyone.
• Personal, sensitive or confidential information of any kind.
• Medical information that violates a person’s Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act (HIPAA) protections
D. Follow all copyright laws, public record laws, retention laws, fair use and financial
disclosure laws and any other laws that might apply to the City or functional area.
E. Do not cite vendors, suppliers, clients, residents, co-workers or other stakeholders without
their approval.
F. Do not use ethnic slurs, profanity, personal insults or engage in any conduct that would
not be acceptable in the City’s workplace. Avoid comments or topics that may be
considered objectionable, inflammatory, or discriminatory.
G. Correct mistakes, and do not alter previous posts without indicating a change has been
made. Frame any comments or opposing views in a positive manner.
H. Add value to the City through your interaction. Provide worthwhile information and
perspective.
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