ALCOAST 458/08
COMDTNOTE 5700
SUBJ: SOCIAL MEDIA - OFFICIAL INTERNET POSTS
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 221746Z SEP 08/ALCOAST 457/08
B. PUBLIC AFFAIRS MANUAL, COMDTINST M5728.2 (SERIES)
C. THE COAST GUARD FREEDOM OF INFORMATION (FOIA) AND PRIVACY ACTS
MANUAL, COMDTINST M5260.3 (SERIES)
D. THE COAST GUARD ENGAGEMENT FRAMEWORK, COMDTINST 5730.2 (SERIES)
1. THIS ALCOAST PROVIDES INTERIM DIRECTION ON OFFICIAL COAST GUARD
INTERNET POSTS ON WEB LOGS, KNOWN AS BLOGS, FORUMS, SOCIAL MEDIA
SITES, AND OTHER WEB SITES. SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENTS NEW OPPORTUNITIES
TO INFORM AND COLLABORATE WITH THE PUBLIC IN MANY WAYS. RECENTLY WE
HAVE SEEN THIS THROUGH EXTENSIVE BLOG DISCUSSION OF THE SERVICES
EXPANDING ROLE IN THE ARCTIC, BY ENGAGING IN NEW FORUMS SUCH AS THE
DOD BLOGGERS ROUNDTABLE, AND THROUGH INCREASING AFFINITY GROUPS IN
NETWORKING TOOLS SUCH AS FACEBOOK. POSTS ALSO PROVIDE LEADING EDGE
INDICATORS OF COMMUNICATIONS CHALLENGES AND NEEDS. OUR APPROACH TO
ONLINE CONTENT IS VERY SIMILAR TO OUR EXISTING PUBLIC AFFAIRS
POLICY: TO BE AWARE OF POSTS RELEVANT TO THE SERVICES MISSIONS,
POLICIES, AND PEOPLE AND TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AT THE RIGHT LEVEL
AND THE RIGHT TIME TO ENSURE INFORMED DISCUSSIONS TO THE EXTENT
THAT OUR RESOURCES ALLOW.
2. IAW REF A, AREAS, DISTRICTS, SECTORS, AND SUBORDINATE UNITS ARE
AUTHORIZED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND RESPOND TO INTERNET
DISCUSSION ON MATTERS THAT ARE IN THEIR LANE AS OUTLINED IN REF B
TO ENSURE THE VIRTUAL PUBLIC RECORD HAS ACCURATE AND PROPERLY
CHARACTERIZED INFORMATION. UNITS ARE ALSO ENCOURAGED TO PROACTIVELY
CONTRIBUTE TO ONLINE CONTENT TO FURTHER PUBLIC INFORMATION,
DISCUSSION, AND UNDERSTANDING OF COAST GUARD ROLES, MISSIONS, AND
ISSUES. AREA AND DISTRICT PUBLIC AFFAIRS STAFFS WILL FACILITATE AND
SUPPORT THESE EFFORTS. UNIT COLLATERAL DUTY PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICERS
MAY ALSO ENGAGE IN THIS REALM AS RESOURCES ALLOW. COMDT (CG-0922)
WILL PROVIDE OR COORDINATE THE SAME FACILITATION AND SUPPORT FOR
COAST GUARD HEADQUARTERS AND HEADQUARTERS UNITS.
3. THE GUIDELINES FOR RELEASE OF INFORMATION OUTLINED IN REF B
APPLY EQUALLY TO ALL MODES OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, INCLUDING OFFICIAL
POSTS TO INTERNET SITES. FURTHERMORE, THE REQUIREMENTS FOR
PROTECTING INFORMATION OUTLINED IN REF C MUST ALSO BE FOLLOWED
WHERE THEY APPLY. CONSISTENT WITH OUR DUTY TO PREVENT DISCLOSURE OF
INFORMATION AS PROHIBITED BY POLICY OR LAW, THE GOAL IS MAXIMUM
DISCLOSURE WITH MINIMUM DELAY OF AVAILABLE, FACTUAL, AND PERTINENT
INFORMATION.
4. THE FORMAT FOR RESPONSES IS INFORMAL, PLAIN LANGUAGE AS OUTLINED
IN REF B AND MAY REFLECT A FIRST PERSON TONE IF DEEMED APPROPRIATE.
THESE RESPONSES SHOULD FOCUS ON FACTUAL INFORMATION AND NOT INCLUDE
DEFENSIVE OR ARGUMENTATIVE WORDING. OFFICIAL RESPONSES SHOULD
INCLUDE THE RANK, NAME, TITLE, AND UNIT OF THE PERSON MAKING THE
POST.
5. A DISCLAIMER TO ENSURE COAST GUARD ENDORSEMENT OF THE WEB SITE
IS NOT IMPLIED WILL BE USED IN ALL CASES WHEN POSTING CONTENT ON
NON-COAST GUARD SITES. THE DISCLAIMER TO USE IS AS FOLLOWS: "THIS
IS AN OFFICIAL UNITED STATES COAST GUARD POSTING FOR THE PUBLICS
INFORMATION. OUR POSTING DOES NOT ENDORSE THIS SITE OR ANYTHING ON
IT, INCLUDING LINKS TO OTHER SITES, AND WE DISCLAIM RESPONSIBILITY
AND LIABILITY FOR THE SITE AND ITS CONTENT."
6. COMDT (CG-092S), RECENTLY RENAMED THE STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS
AND SOCIAL MEDIA STAFF, IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF
POLICY, GUIDANCE, AND TOOLS NEEDED TO PERFORM THIS TASK. COMDT (CG-
0922) IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SYNCHRONIZING ENGAGEMENT WITH ALL MEDIA-
BASED CONTENT ON THE COAST GUARD. THE FOLLOWING BASIC ACTIONS WILL
BE USED TO COORDINATE COAST GUARD POSTS ON INTERNET SITES:
A. COMDT (CG-092) WILL GATHER COAST GUARD RELATED POSTS FROM THE
INTERNET ON A CONTINUAL BASIS AND SHARE WITH FIELD PUBLIC AFFAIRS
OFFICES AND HEADQUARTERS DIRECTORATES/UNITS. AREA AND DISTRICT
PUBLIC AFFAIRS STAFFS MAY ALSO FORWARD ITEMS TO COMDT (CG-092).
SPECIFIC DETAILS WILL BE PROVIDED SEPARATELY TO PUBLIC AFFAIRS
STAFFS BY COMDT (CG-092S).
B. THE POSTS WILL BE REVIEWED FOR ITEMS THAT MIGHT REQUIRE
FURTHER ACTION. COMDT (CG-0922) WILL FOLLOW UP MATTERS THAT INVOLVE
COAST GUARD HEADQUARTERS AND HEADQUARTERS UNITS. AREA AND DISTRICT
PUBLIC AFFAIRS STAFFS WILL FOLLOW UP MATTERS IN THEIR AREA OF
RESPONSIBILITY AND UNDER THEIR OPERATIONAL CHAIN OF COMMAND.
C. POSTS BENEFITING FROM OR REQUIRING FOLLOW-UP WILL BE ACTED
UPON QUICKLY USING THE POLICY GUIDELINES OUTLINED IN REFS B AND C.
IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, THIS MAY REQUIRE THE ISSUANCE OF VERY BASIC
FACTUAL INFORMATION THAT IS AVAILABLE OR A SHORT STATEMENT
EXPLAINING AN INABILITY TO PROVIDE INFORMATION DUE TO PRIVACY,
SENSITIVITY, OR INVESTIGATORY CONCERNS, AND WHERE ABLE, FOLLOWING
UP AT A LATER DATE WITH MORE INFORMATION.
D. A HEADQUARTERS STRATEGIC PLANNING TEAM WILL BE CONVENED AT THE
REQUEST OF COMDT (CG-092) TO ADDRESS SIGNIFICANT ISSUES REQUIRING
CROSS-PROGRAMMATIC INPUT. AREAS AND DISTRICTS SHOULD HAVE A SIMILAR
PROCESS IN PLACE TO ENSURE ACCURACY OF OFFICIAL COAST GUARD CONTENT
POSTED ON WEB SITES. THE COMMUNICATION ACTION PLAN PROCESS
CONTAINED IN REF D MAY BE USED AS NEEDED IN THESE SITUATIONS.
7. COMDT (CG-092S) AND COMDT (CG-0922) ARE AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE
SUBJECT AND PROCESS SPECIFIC GUIDANCE VIA LESS FORMAL MEANS AS
NEEDED.
8. THIS INTERIM DIRECTION WILL BE UPDATED AS NEEDED AND FORMALIZED
IN CHANGE 1 TO REF B.
9. COMDT (CG-092S) POC IS CDR GLYNN SMITH AT (202) 372-4602 OR
GLYNN.C.SMITH(AT)USCG.MIL.
10. COMDT (CG-0922) POC IS CDR RON LABREC AT (202) 372-4627 OR
RONALD.A.LABREC(AT)USCG.MIL.
11. RELEASED BY RDML MARY E. LANDRY, DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENTAL AND
PUBLIC AFFAIRS.
12. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.

http://www.uscg.mil/ANNOUNCEMENTS/alcoast/ALCOAST458.txt

ALCOAST 457/08
COMDTNOTE 5700
SUBJ: SOCIAL MEDIA - THE WAY AHEAD
1. THE GLOBAL INFORMATION ENVIRONMENT IS UNDERGOING REVOLUTIONARY
CHANGE, PARTICULARLY IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA
TOOLS. AS WE MODERNIZE THE COAST GUARD WE MUST LEARN HOW TO
EFFECTIVELY USE SOCIAL MEDIA TOOLS TO ENHANCE OUR ABILITY TO
PERFORM AS A MORE TRANSPARENT, CHANGE-CENTRIC ORGANIZATION PREPARED
TO MEET INCREASINGLY COMPLEX MISSION DEMANDS.
2. SOCIAL MEDIA, ALSO REFERRED TO AS THE NEW MEDIA OR WEB 2.0, IS
THE EVOLUTION AND INTEGRATION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIAL
INTERACTION THROUGH VARIOUS MEDIA INCLUDING BLOGS (WEB LOGS),
WIKIS, SOCIAL NETWORKS, REALLY SIMPLE SYNDICATION (RSS) FEEDS,
SOCIAL BOOK MARKING, AND PODCASTS. AS I HAVE TOLD MY SENIOR
LEADERSHIP AND RESTATED IN NUMEROUS EXTERNAL SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS,
SOCIAL MEDIA IS NOT A FAD. IT IS A FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE IN OUR
ENVIRONMENT. HOW WE COMMUNICATE, AGGREGATE WITH OTHERS, AND
INTERACT WITH OUR ENVIRONMENT IS CHANGING DRAMATICALLY WITH
SUCCESSIVE GENERATIONS.
3. BECOMING A MORE AGILE AND CHANGE-CENTRIC ORGANIZATION REQUIRES
THAT WE UNDERSTAND AND INTERACT THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA. ACCORDINGLY
WE MUST ADJUST TO THIS PARADIGM CHANGE AND MOVE FROM A VERTICAL
INFORMATION MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE TO A MORE NETWORKED ORGANIZATION.
THESE CHANGES OFFER TREMENDOUS ADVANTAGES IN MISSION EXECUTION AND
SUPPORT, COMMUNICATION, AND KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT, INCLUDING OUR NEW
BUSINESS MODEL FOR LOGISTICS. HOWEVER, THE MANAGERIAL AND CULTURAL
IMPLICATIONS OF THIS CHANGE ARE SIGNIFICANT. THAT SAID WE WILL MOVE
FORWARD TO ADAPT OUR ENTERPRISE ARCHITECTURE, POLICIES, AND
PROCEDURES TO POSITION US FOR SUCCESS IN THE FUTURE.
4. COMDT (CG-092), THE GOVERNMENTAL AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIRECTORATE,
WILL COORDINATE OUR ORGANIZATIONAL ENGAGEMENT IN THE SOCIAL MEDIA
ENVIRONMENT WITH INTERIM POLICY, GUIDANCE, TOOLS, AND PROCESSES. IN
THE WEEK AHEAD, EXPECT THE FIRST ALCOAST THAT WILL PROVIDE INTERIM
DIRECTION. MORE GUIDANCE WILL FOLLOW AS THE PROGRAM EVOLVES.
5. COMDT (CG-6), THE ASSISTANT COMMANDANT FOR C4IT, WILL PROVIDE
THE TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES FOR THIS INITIATIVE. COMDT (CG-6) WILL
MANAGE THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES IN
THE COAST GUARD NETWORK AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE. TECHNOLOGIES
PRESENTLY IN DEVELOPMENT FOR ROLL-OUT INCLUDE AN ADVANCED COAST
GUARD WEB PORTAL TO REPLACE CG CENTRAL AND THE WWW.USCG.MIL SITE,
OUTLOOK WEB ACCESS CAPABILITY, COLLABORATION TOOLS, AND INSTANT
MESSAGING.
6. I HAVE ALSO ASKED THE VICE COMMANDANT TO ESTABLISH A WORKING
GROUP THAT WILL LOOK AT THE OPPORTUNITIES ASSOCIATED WITH SOCIAL
MEDIA INCLUDING HOW WE USE THESE TOOLS TO WORK INTERNALLY AND
COLLABORATE EXTERNALLY.
7. FINALLY, THIS PAST COAST GUARD DAY I FORMALLY INTRODUCED OUR
GUARDIAN ETHOS. AS WE ENGAGE IN THE SOCIAL MEDIA REALM, REMEMBER
THAT THE GUARDIAN ETHOS APPLIES TO HOW WE TREAT EACH OTHER AS WELL
AS THE PUBLIC WE SERVE, INCLUDING IN THE SOCIAL MEDIA REALM.
UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ENSURE THAT INFORMATION PASSED
VIA THE SOCIAL MEDIA IS COMPLETE AND ACCURATE, THUS, THE READER HAS
TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR JUDGING THE VALIDITY OF THE
INFORMATION. THAT SAID, THE ETHOS IS AN EFFECTIVE "NAVIGATION
AID" AS WE PARTICIPATE IN SOCIAL MEDIA WHETHER WE ARE RECEIVING OR
PROVIDING INFORMATION. HEAR MORE IN MY VIDEO ON SOCIAL MEDIA AT
HTTP://CGVI.USCG.MIL (CLICK ON "VIDEO," THEN CLICK ON MY SOCIAL
MEDIA VIDEO) OR PODCAST AT HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/TOP/PODCAST.ASP
(SCROLL TO BOTTOM OF PAGE).
8. ADM THAD ALLEN, COMMANDANT, U.S. COAST GUARD, SENDS.
9. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.

http://www.uscg.mil/ANNOUNCEMENTS/alcoast/ALCOAST45708.txt

quote:

A. COMDT (CG-092) WILL GATHER COAST GUARD RELATED POSTS FROM THE
INTERNET ON A CONTINUAL BASIS AND SHARE WITH FIELD PUBLIC AFFAIRS
OFFICES AND HEADQUARTERS DIRECTORATES/UNITS. AREA AND DISTRICT
PUBLIC AFFAIRS STAFFS MAY ALSO FORWARD ITEMS TO COMDT (CG-092).
SPECIFIC DETAILS WILL BE PROVIDED SEPARATELY TO PUBLIC AFFAIRS
STAFFS BY COMDT (CG-092S).

What the heck does this mean? I guess we can expect a request for a CG HQs official forum.

Are these links mil.com approved?

T

quote:

Are these links mil.com approved?

according to rob's shotgun mega post - yes as they end in .mil

T, I believe it to mean that CGHQ will maintain visiblity on CG related discussions and ensure it's message isn't misconstrued.

Sent you a PM on the second question.

Those who are interested can view the ADM Allen's embrace of the "new media" here at the DOD Bloggers Roundtable:

http://www.defenselink.mil/blogger/index.aspx

...and a nice follow-up article by DefenseLink News:

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=51281

"Allen said he encourages everyone in the Coast Guard community who is interested in blogging to remember that interacting in the blogosphere should be seen as no different from operating on a Coast Guard base."

This doesnt have anything to do with a chatroom added to my workstation 3 overnight last night did it? Did anyone else see that chatroom box come up today logging on and chat with anyone logged on?

It might. The Army has had forums (similar to those you see in CGCENTRAL) and chatrooms for awhile now on their version (Army Knowledge Online/AKO).UNCLAS chatrooms might be a good idea for the CG...after all they've used them on the "high" side, i.e., SIPRNET for the past 8 or so yrs now.

Anyone here on SWIII that can answer this about the chatrooms?

Didn't Admiral Allen just state like a week ago that he didn't consider "blogging" to be a real media outlet or source? -Jeff

I have the new IM chat program and love it. I have already used it to talk to MLC PAC and our unit SPO.

I had heard the CG was going to go to a chat feature because its easier and takes less time than sending endless emails.

When you set up to use it, make sure you set it up to save all your conversations, that way you can still use the documentation like an email.

quote:

Originally posted by rxjeff:
Didn't Admiral Allen just state like a week ago that he didn't consider "blogging" to be a real media outlet or source? -Jeff

Jeff,

That is not correct. To be clear, the Coast Guard does not hold the position that all bloggers are not journalists. The Commandant’s point was that not all bloggers are appropriately categorized as “news media” for the sake of Freedom of Information Act fees.

The Coast Guard is committed to organizational transparency and compliance with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552. Anyone may have access to government documents under FOIA unless the documents are exempted from release. The Coast Guard is guided by the Department of Justice Freedom of Information Act Guide, the Coast Guard Freedom of Information and Privacy Acts Manual (COMDTINST M5260.3.l), and legal precedent. COMDTINST M5260.3 sets policy and procedures for responding to FOIA requests. For the most part, requestors pay for the cost of producing material in response to a FOIA request and the Coast Guard FOIA manual guides Coast Guard personnel in categorizing requestors and then calculating applicable fees for searching, reviewing, and duplicating responsive FOIA materials based on the requestor’s category.

If a requester is categorized as “representative of the news media,” then only duplication fees after the first 100 pages are assessed. Whether alternative media (i.e. bloggers) are eligible for categorization as “representative of the news media” is an evolving legal issue based on the extent to which the alternative media has infused its content with sufficient journalistic rigor and whether it is organized and operated to publish or broadcast news to the public.

Simply put, not all online content constitutes journalism that warrants the cost of FOIA production to be borne by the American taxpayer. This is not a value judgment on the content of a blog or other online site, it is simply the application of federal law and guidelines in determining whether an activity is journalism, the Coast Guard may consider a requestor’s past work as compared to accepted professional standards of journalism, including, but not limited to:

American Society of News Editors
Society of Professional Journalists
Associated Press

The Coast Guard’s intent is to achieve openness of its records by applying U.S. government guidelines consistently in a way that does not burden the U. S. taxpayer with underwriting the FOIA requests of individuals or groups that are not eligible for a lower fee level.

LCDR Tony Russell,
Press Secretary to the Commandant
——–
This is an official United States Coast Guard posting for the public’s information. Our posting does not endorse this site or anything on it, including links to other sites, and we disclaim responsibility and liability for the site and its content.

LCDR Russell, we appreciate and welcome your contributions here. Please don't be a stranger.

quote:

Originally posted by coastie0002:
This doesnt have anything to do with a chatroom added to my workstation 3 overnight last night did it? Did anyone else see that chatroom box come up today logging on and chat with anyone logged on?

I had a conversation with Captain Kelley, CO Sector Baltimore a little while back about something like this. We were discussing a program called WEBEOC. Its a documentation and Emergency Operations Center software program with a chat function. He was talking about recommending the purchase of WEBEOC CG wide for the Op Centers.

I am at a point where I have to switch to WEBEOC because VA, DC, and MD went to it, and I am now replicating sitreps. But here is why I bring it up. Under COOP planning, we are required to maintain a alternate facility. I brought up the possibility of a virtual EOC as a secondary. If you have a web based system that allows chatting, document storage, sitreps, resource typing, its that pretty much the same idea as an EOC?

My old boss hated the idea of chat rooms. His logic was that we wasted time, and we lost the one on one face time with our colleagues. I find that after every exercise or activation, I have to go back and scrape close to 100 workstations of Yahoo IM, or AIM. Its clear to me that people are useing Instant Messanger programs to perform normal work activities. I still am not convienced there is a usefull work related purpose for these systems, but am open for other thoughts.

I am a little weary when we begin lumping Joe Bob Blogger in with certified news outlets. They are no where close to the same. There is no formal editing process for bloggers, no quality control, and usually no requirement for a well researched piece.

Would you consider any one of us on here as news? No, yet technically we are blogging.

T

quote:

I still am not convienced there is a usefull work related purpose for these systems, but am open for other thoughts.

T,

Maintaining contacts, whether via instant messaging, professional related forums, phone, or email, is useful in the grand scheme of things as those processes all fall under networking.

Don't sell short any communications form.

quote:

I find that after every exercise or activation, I have to go back and scrape close to 100 workstations of Yahoo IM, or AIM. Its clear to me that people are useing Instant Messanger programs to perform normal work activities.

Just curious. How do you know they are using those chat applications for work, as opposed to just BS-ing with each other?