Social Media: The Offensive Strategy

摘要

SCENARIO: A TURBULENT PLUME OF black smoke rises over a major metropolitan area just as motorists begin their evening commute home. Traffic is snarled as mutual-aid fire apparatus from across the city slowly slalom their way to the scene. Community members and news outlets eagerly search for information on what's happening, many of them turning to social media for answers. On Twitter, they'll see photos and videos from eyewitnesses showing huge flames and a shadow-casting smoke plume, and they'll listen to bystander comments, "What's taking the fire department so long?" "Someone probably got killed in there!" "Why aren't they spraying any water?" "Is that smoke toxic?" If this incident happened in your district today, would your fire department have a timely, factual voice on social media? If the answer is no, someone, anyone, could be driving the narrative about what's happening. When we talk about strategy and tactics in the fire service's social media, photography and videography aren't the first things that typically come to mind. That being said, these topics are also vital for fire departments to consider. Using social media in an honest and timely manner before, during, and after incidents is vital to strengthen our mutual reliance with the communities we serve.