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VALLEYDISTRICTCRICKETCLUBSOCIALMEDIAPOLICY

2016

Policyoverviewandpurpose

Socialmediaischangingthewaywecommunicate.

Thispolicyhasbeendevelopedtoinformourcommunityaboutusingsocialmediasopeoplefeelenabled

toparticipate,whilebeingmindfuloftheirresponsibilitiesandobligations.Inparticular,thispolicy

providespracticalguidanceallowingallpartiestobenefitfromtheuseofsocialmedia,whileminimising

potentialrisksandprotectingthoseinvolved.

Thispolicyassiststoestablishacultureofopenness,trustandintegrityinallonlineactivitiesrelatedto

ValleyDistrictCricketClub(VDCC).

ThispolicycontainsVDCCguidelinesforourcommunitytoengageinsocialmediause.Italsoincludesdetailsofbreachesofthepolicy.

Incircumstanceswhereguidanceaboutsocialmediaissueshasnotbeengiveninthispolicy,wesuggestyouusecommonsenseorseekoutadvicefromthosewhohaveapprovedthispolicy.

CoverageThispolicyappliestoallpersonswhoareinvolvedwiththeactivitiesofVDCC,whethertheypaidorinavoluntarycapacityandincluding:• members,includinglifemembersofVDCC• personsappointedorelectedtoVDCCexecutive,committeesandsub-committees;• employeesofVDCC;• players• spectators• familymembers• supportpersonnel,includingmanagers,physiotherapists,masseurs,sporttrainersandothers;• coachesandassistantcoaches;• umpiresandotherofficials;• memberassociations

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ScopeSocialmediareferstoanyonlinetoolsorfunctionsthatallowpeopletocommunicateand/orsharecontentviatheinternet.Thissocialmediapolicyappliestoplatformsincluding,butnotlimitedto:

• Socialnetworkingsites(e.g.Facebook,Twitter,LinkedIn,Google+,Pinterest,Yammer,etc)• Videoandphotosharingwebsitesorapps(e.g.YouTube,Vimeo,Instagram,Flickr,Vine,etc)• Blogsandmicro-bloggingplatforms(e.g.Tumblr,Wordpress,Blogger,etc)• Reviewsites(e.g.Yelp,UrbanSpoon,etc)• Livebroadcastingapps(e.g.Periscope,Meerkat,FacebookMentions,etc)• Podcasting(e.g.iTunes,Stitcher,Soundcloud,etc)• Geo-spatialtagging(e.g.Foursquare,etc)• Onlineencyclopaedias(e.g.Wikipedia,etc)• Instantmessaging(e.g.SMS,Skype,Snapchat,WhatsApp,Viber,etc)• Onlinemultiplayergamingplatforms(e.g.WorldofWarcraft,Secondlife,XboxLive,etc)• Onlinevotingorpolls• Publicandprivateonlineforumsanddiscussionboards• Anyotheronlinetechnologiesthatallowindividualuserstouploadandsharecontent.Thispolicyisapplicablewhenusingsocialmediaas:

1. anofficiallydesignatedindividualrepresentingVDCConsocialmedia;and2. ifyouarepostingcontentonsocialmediainrelationtoVDCCthatmightaffectVDCC’sbusiness,

services,events,sponsors,membersorreputation.NOTE:ThispolicydoesnotapplytothepersonaluseofsocialmediawhereitisnotrelatedtoorthereisnoreferencetoVDCCoritsbusiness,competitions,teams,participants,products,services,events,sponsors,membersorreputation.However,anymisusebyyouofsocialmediainamannerthatdoesnotdirectlyrefertoVDCCmaystillberegulatedbyotherpolicies,rulesorregulationsofVDCC.UsingsocialmediainanofficialcapacityAsapartofVDCC’s,communityyouareanextensionoftheVDCCbrand.Assuch,theboundariesbetweenwhenyouarerepresentingyourselfandwhenyouarerepresentingVDCCcanoftenbeblurred.ThisbecomesevenmoreofanissueasyouincreaseyourprofileorpositionwithinVDCC.ThereforeitisimportantthatyourepresentbothyourselfandVDCCappropriatelyonlineatalltimes.GuidelinesYoumustadheretothefollowingguidelineswhenusingsocialmediarelatedtoVDCCoritsbusiness,competitions,teams,participants,services,events,sponsors,membersorreputation.

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UsecommonsenseWheneveryouareunsureastowhetherornotthecontentyouwishtoshareisappropriate,seekadvicefromothersbeforedoingsoorrefrainfromsharingthecontenttobeonthesafeside.Whenusingsocialmedia,thelinesbetweenpublicandprivate,personalandprofessional,maybeblurred.Remember,youareanambassadorforVDCC.ProtectingyourprivacyBesmartaboutprotectingyourselfandyourprivacy.Whenpostingcontentonlinethereispotentialforthatcontenttobecomepubliclyavailablethroughavarietyofmeans,evenifitwasintendedtobesharedprivately.Therefore,youshouldrefrainfrompostinganycontentonlinethatyouwouldnotbehappyforanyonetosee,evenifyoufeelconfidentthataparticularindividualwouldneverseeit.Wherepossible,privacysettingsonsocialmediaplatformsshouldbesettolimitaccess.Youshouldalsobecautiousaboutdisclosingyourpersonaldetails.HonestyYourhonesty—ordishonesty—maybequicklynoticedinthesocialmediaenvironment.Donotsayanythingthatisdishonest,untrueormisleading.Ifyouareunsure,checkthesourceandthefactsbeforeuploadingorpostinganything.VDCCrecommendserringonthesideofcaution–ifindoubt,donotpostorupload.Donotpostanonymously,usingpseudonymsorfalsescreennames.Betransparentandhonest.Useyourrealname,beclearaboutwhoyouareandidentifyanyaffiliationsyouhave.Ifyouhaveavestedinterestinsomethingyouarediscussing,pointitout.Ifyoumakeanendorsementorrecommendationaboutsomethingyouareaffiliatedwith,orhaveacloserelationshipwith,youmustdisclosethataffiliation.Thewebisnotanonymous.Youshouldassumethatallinformationpostedonlinecanbetracedbacktoyou.Youareaccountableforyouractionsbothonandoffline,includingtheinformationyoupostviayourpersonalsocialmediaaccounts.UseofdisclaimersWhereverpractical,includeaprominentdisclaimerstatingwhoyouworkfororareaffiliatedwithVDCCandthatanythingyoupublishisyourpersonalopinionandthatyouarenotspeakingofficially.Thisisgoodpracticeandisencouraged,butdon'tcountonittoavoidtrouble-–itmaynothavelegaleffect.ReasonableuseIfyouareanemployeeofVDCC,youmustensurethatyourpersonaluseofsocialmediadoesnotinterferewithyourworkcommitmentsorproductivity.

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RespectconfidentialityandsensitivityWhenusingsocialmedia,youmustmaintaintheprivacyofVDCC’sconfidentialinformation.Thisincludesinformationthatisnotpublicallyaccessible,widelyknown,ornotexpectedtobesharedoutsideofVDCC.Remember,ifyouareonline,youareontherecord—muchofthecontentpostedonlineispublicandsearchable.WithinthescopeofyourauthorisationbyVDCC,itisperfectlyacceptabletotalkaboutVDCCandhaveadialoguewiththecommunity,butitisnotokaytopublishconfidentialinformationofVDCC.Confidentialinformationincludesthingssuchasdetailsaboutlitigation,unpublisheddetailsaboutVDCC:e.g.team,coachingpractices,financialinformationandtradesecrets.Whenusingsocialmediayoushouldbeconsideratetoothersandshouldnotpostinformationwhenyouhavebeenaskednotto,orwhereconsenthasnotbeensoughtandgiven.Youmustalsoremoveinformationaboutanotherpersonifthatpersonasksyoutodoso.Permissionshouldalwaysbesoughtiftheuseorpublicationofinformationisnotincidental,butdirectlyrelatedtoanindividual.Thisisparticularlyrelevanttopublishinganyinformationregardingminors.Insuchcircumstances,parentalorguardianconsentismandatory.Gainingpermissionwhenpublishingaperson’sidentifiableimageNominatedClubofficialswilluseappropriateimagesofclubmemberstopromotetheclubinsocialmediaandtheVDCCwebsite.Othersmustensurepermissionfromachild’sparentorguardianhasbeengiventouseadirect,clearlyidentifiableimageofthatchild.ApproachtheTeamManager/Coachwhowillhaveobtainedthisparentalapprovalforplayersintheteam.Youshouldalsorefrainfrompostinganyinformationorphotosofasensitivenature.Thiscouldincludeaccidents,incidentsorcontroversialbehaviour.ComplyingwithapplicablelawsDonotpostorlinktocontentthatcontainsillegalorindecentcontent,includingdefamatory,vilifyingormisleadinganddeceptivecontent.AbidingbycopyrightlawsItiscriticalthatyoucomplywiththelawsgoverningcopyrightinrelationtomaterialownedbyothersandVDCC’sownbrands.Youshouldneverquoteorusemorethanshortexcerptsofsomeoneelse'swork,andyoushouldalwaysattributesuchworktotheoriginalauthor/source.Itisgoodpracticetolinktoothers'workratherthanreproduceit.Discrimination,sexualharassmentandbullyingThepublicingeneral,andVDCC'semployeesandmembers,reflectadiversesetofcustoms,valuesandpointsofview.

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Youmustnotpostanymaterialthatisoffensive,harassing,discriminatory,embarrassing,intimidating,sexuallyexplicit,bullying,hateful,racist,sexistorotherwiseinappropriate.AvoidingcontroversialissuesWithinthescopeofyourauthorisationbyVDCC,ifyouseemisrepresentationsmadeaboutVDCCinthemedia,youmaypointthatouttotherelevantauthorityinVDCC.Alwaysdosowithrespectandwiththefacts.Ifyouspeakaboutothers,makesurewhatyousayisbasedonfactanddoesnotdiscreditorbelittlethatparty.DealingwithmistakesIfVDCCmakesanerrorwhilepostingonsocialmedia,beupfrontaboutthemistakeandaddressitquickly.Ifyouchoosetomodifyanearlierpost,makeitclearthatyouhavedoneso.IfsomeoneaccusesVDCCofpostingsomethingimproper(suchastheircopyrightedmaterialoradefamatorycommentaboutthem),addressitpromptlyandappropriatelyandifnecessary,seeklegaladvice.ConscientiousbehaviourandawarenessoftheconsequencesKeepinmindthatwhatyouwriteisyourresponsibility,andfailuretoabidebytheseguidelinescouldputyourVDCCmembership/employmentatrisk.Youshouldalwaysfollowthetermsandconditionsforanythird-partysitesinwhichyouparticipate.BrandingandintellectualpropertyofVDCCYoumustnotuseanyofVDCC’sintellectualpropertyorimageryonyourpersonalsocialmediawithoutpriorapprovalfromVDCC.VDCC’sintellectualpropertyincludesbutisnotlimitedto:• logos• slogans• imagerywhichhasbeenpostedonVDCCofficialsocialmediasitesorwebsite.YoumustnotcreateeitheranofficialorunofficialVDCCpresenceusingtheorganisation’slogoornamewithoutpriorapprovalfromVDCC.YoumustnotimplythatyouareauthorisedtospeakonbehalfofVDCCunlessyouhavebeengivenofficialauthorisationtodosobyVDCCChairman,MrPatCulpan.PolicybreachesBreachesofthispolicyincludebutarenotlimitedto:• UsingVDCC’sname,mottoorlogoinawaythatwouldresultinanegativeimpactfortheorganisation,

clubsand/oritsmembers.• Postingorsharinganycontentthatisabusive,harassing,threatening,demeaning,defamatoryor

libellous.

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• Postingorsharinganycontentthatincludesinsulting,obscene,offensive,provocativeorhatefullanguage.

• Postingorsharinganycontent,whichifsaidinpersonduringtheplayingofthegamewouldresultinabreachoftherulesofthegame.

• PostingorsharinganycontentinbreachofVDCC’santi-discrimination,racialdiscrimination,sexualharassmentorothersimilarpolicy.

• PostingorsharinganycontentthatisabreachofanystateorCommonwealthlaw.• Postingorsharinganymaterialtooursocialmediachannelsthatinfringestheintellectualproperty

rightsofothers.• Postingorsharingmaterialthatbrings,orrisksbringingVDCC,itsaffiliates,itssport,itsofficials,

membersorsponsorsintodisrepute.Inthiscontext,bringingapersonororganisationintodisreputeistolowerthereputationofthatpersonororganisationintheeyesoftheordinarymembersofthepublic.

ReportingabreachIfyounoticeinappropriateorunlawfulcontentonlinerelatingtoVDCCoranyofitsmembers,orcontentthatmayotherwisehavebeenpublishedinbreachofthispolicy,youshouldreportthecircumstancesimmediately.PleasecontactSecretary,VDCCatsecretary@valleycricket.org.auInvestigationAllegedbreachesofthissocialmediapolicymaybeinvestigatedaccordingtoVDCC’sMemberProtectionPolicy.Whereitisconsiderednecessary,VDCCmayreportabreachofthissocialmediapolicytopolice.Disciplinaryprocess,consequencesandappealsDependingonthecircumstancesbreachesofthispolicymaybedealtwithinaccordancewiththedisciplinaryprocedurecontainedintheVDCC’sMemberProtectionPolicy.EmployeesofVDCCwhobreachthispolicymayfacedisciplinaryactionuptoandincludingterminationofemploymentinaccordancewithVDCCMemberProtectionPolicyoranyotherrelevantpolicy.AppealsAnypersonwhoissanctionedunderadisciplinaryprocessforbreachofthispolicymayhavearightofappealunderClause10.4oftheVDCCMemberProtectionPolicyRelatedpolicies• MemberProtectionPolicy• CodesofConduct

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Otherlegalconsiderationsthatmaybeapplicableincludebutarenotlimitedto:• Defamation• Intellectualpropertylaws,includingcopyrightandtrademarklaws,Privacy,confidentialityand

informationsecuritylaws• Anti-discriminationlaws• Employmentlaws• Advertisingstandards• CharterofHumanRightsandResponsibilitiesAct2006• InformationPrivacyAct2000• Equalopportunitylaws• ContemptofCourt• Gaminglaws