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Social Media Policy

Introduction

With the increased popularity and relevance of social media, Marketwire has developed stronger communications practices for both internal and external audiences. While social media brings about new opportunities for interaction and collaboration, it also means added responsibilities for Marketwire employees who contribute to blogs, wikis, social networks, virtual worlds, or any other kind of social media platform, for professional and personal reasons during both work and recreational time.

The following Code of Conduct has been created for your guidance and protection and to ensure that Marketwire's presence on social networking sites is held to the highest scrutiny.

Marketwire and its employees currently participate in several social networking sites, including, but not limited to:
  • Networking sites - LinkedIn, Facebook, MySpace
  • Microblogging - Twitter
  • Marketwire Blog - Marketwireblog.com
  • Employee-owned/authored blogs
  • Photo and video sharing sites - Flickr, Photobucket, YouTube
  • Bookmarking/website sharing sites - Delicious, StumbleUpon, Digg, Newsvine, Reddit
  • Wikis - Wikipedia and other forms of user interaction such as Yahoo! Answers
     

Marketwire's Social Media Code of Conduct and Best Practices

All Marketwire employees must understand and abide by the following elements intrinsic to social media:

  1. Integrity: Marketwire requires that all employees are honest and open in their use of social media, with high regard for the public interest.

    The use of social media is not meant as a platform to 'spam'. Rather, it is a vehicle through which you achieve your own goals while helping others. Maintain composure if you disagree with someone else's statement, including those about Marketwire or those written by competitors, by being constructive and respectful. Keep comments and posts focused on the topic. Ask yourself, "Am I adding value"?
     
  2. Accuracy: When disseminating information, employees will ensure that the information they post is accurate, including respecting copyright laws and referencing or citing sources appropriately.

    Social Media will never be used to mislead, misrepresent or malign clients, competitors, employees, or colleagues, both personal and professional. Do not post or forward information that is or could be perceived as untrue, unconfirmed, or deceptive. If you accidentally post inaccurate information, correct it quickly and publicly, thereby earning you respect and credibility.
     
  3. Transparency: Avoid appearing deceptive as well as introducing any potential conflicts of interest. For Marketwire's benefit or not, use full disclosure so that readers know of your employment status and profession. Include a disclaimer that the views posted are your own and not necessarily those of Marketwire.

    Employees: use of social media must be transparent.
    Personal blogs should have clear disclaimers that the views expressed by the author in the blog is the author's alone and do not represent the views of the company. Where it is necessary or best practice to do so, employees will indicate clearly that Marketwire is their employer.
     
  4. Confidentiality: Do not disclose or post on social networking sites any privileged information, personal or professional, that is confidential or proprietary to Marketwire or to Marketwire clients.
     
  5. Responsibility: Refrain from posting content on your professional or personal blogs or networking sites that include text, images or comments that reflect negatively on Marketwire or could otherwise cause embarrassment for the company from association with that content.

    Think before you post. Posting information about your personal life is not isolated from postings made during your professional life, and vice versa. Be aware that your actions captured via images, posts, or comments can reflect that of our company. There is no such thing as a 'private' social media site. Keep in mind that in several well-publicized cases, employers have either taken action against or dismissed their employees for their misuse of social media. Also, realize that what you post on your personal blog is a direct reflection of you. Associating yourself with Marketwire by name on your personal blog AND illustrating your blog with language, images, etc., that may be considered offensive, unprofessional, or immature may damage your reputation personally and harm your potential professionally.
     
    • If you are unsure of whether you can or should post specific information, err on the side of caution and get verbal or written approval from your direct supervisor. Or, simply don't post it. Click for example of what NOT to do: Example 1
       
  6. Use common sense: There is no such thing as a "private" social media site. Search engines can find old posts and comments that you thought you deleted can be found and forwarded.

    If you are unsure of whether you can or should post specific information, err on the side of caution and get verbal or written approval from your direct supervisor. Or, simply don't post it.
     
  7. Maintain confidentiality: Do not disclose any information that is confidential or proprietary to Marketwire or to Marketwire clients.
     
  8. Be accurate: Communications should be based on current, accurate, complete, and relevant data. Linking to a source works best. Do not post or forward information that is or could be perceived as untrue, unconfirmed, or deceptive. If you accidentally post inaccurate information, correct it quickly and publicly, thereby earning you respect and credibility.
     
  9. Practice Wise Time Management: Post personal content and participate in your personal social media networking activities on your personal time. Social media activities are not to interfere with work commitments during working hours.
     
  10. Be relevant and respectful: The use of social media is not meant as a platform to 'spam'. Rather, it is a vehicle through which you achieve your own goals while helping others. Maintain composure if you disagree with someone else's statement, including those about Marketwire or those written by competitors, by being constructive and respectful. Keep comments and posts focused on the topic. Ask yourself, "Am I adding value?"
     
    • Under no circumstances is it appropriate to enter into discussions that are religious, sexual, racially motivated, political or offensive to anyone in any way.
    • Marketwire has a zero-tolerance policy for such behavior across the company, and employees who fail to comply will be dealt with swiftly and severely.
       
    We expect all who participate in social media on behalf of Marketwire and/or on a personal level to fully understand our corporate policy and to adhere to its specifications. Failure to do so could put your future participation or more at risk. These guidelines will continually evolve as new technologies and social networking tools emerge; it is your responsibility to periodically check back to make sure you're up to date. If you have any questions or concerns, you are encouraged to speak with your direct supervisor. Those who fail to comply with this policy will be subject to disciplinary actions.