2015 Yearbook

R E V I E W 43 CULTURAL CONNECTIONS SOCIAL MEDIA FOR THE CONSERVATION PROFESSIONAL ALISON McCANDLISH Recent data from the Office for National Statistics shows that 73 per cent of adults now use the internet every day and 42 per cent of businesses have a social media presence. All government departments publish information online through websites, blogs or Twitter so accessing this information through social media can help you stay in touch with developments in your profession. As well as consuming information online which has been produced by others, using digital storytelling tools empowers you to curate a positive professional footprint. Contributing thoughtful content online can help you to improve your digital skills and enhance your professional persona. This article suggests ways in which you can use a selection of social networking sites to create and sustain cultural connections using freely available digital tools. It also includes points to consider about privacy and technology as well as ways in which you can use digital technology for CPD and constructive career development. BARRIERS TO SOCIAL NETWORKING For most social media tools you don’t need specialist IT skills and there is no need to have a profile on every social media channel – try using what feels comfortable for you. While ‘oversharing’ is best avoided and the appropriate privacy settings should be considered, there isn’t necessarily a right solution for everyone. Clearly, confidentiality of client projects or committee meetings is vital, some information is not meant for public consumption and some employee codes of conduct may prohibit the use of social media at work. To maintain your privacy and as part of your adherence to the IHBC code of conduct, use your own judgment about what to share but don’t be scared of the power of digital storytelling! If you don’t have your own equipment, your local library or UK online centre should be able to provide free access to a computer (and IT classes if you need them). And if the cost or availability of internet access is an issue, why not try using free Wi-Fi at a local café? LINKEDIN One of the most professionally orientated social networking tools is LinkedIn, which has 347 million users worldwide. It can act as your online CV and connect you to other IHBC members via our LinkedIn group (c5,000 members at the time of writing). Groups are a good way to find out about current conservation issues, seek advice from like-minded individuals and contribute to debates. LinkedIn is also good for job hunting and keeping an eye on relevant groups and companies can also highlight opportunities. Volunteering has recently been given a higher profile and you can list causes which you are passionate about. By connecting with colleagues past and present, joining discussions and posting updates you can build a professional portfolio showcasing your work (including, for example, your key skills or press coverage of your projects). TWITTER Twitter lets you broadcast short text updates of 140 characters and can incorporate images, videos and hyperlinks. When you set up an account, Twitter asks you to follow people. You can follow anyone you want and will find many examples of local community organisations, charities, museums, government departments, local authorities, professional bodies and individuals who tweet about heritage and conservation. A simple introduction to using Twitter might be to retweet (RT) something posted by someone you follow, like a news item related to your field. You can also add a comment to express your opinion. Joining in with conversations about topics which are of interest to those you follow is another way to make connections. Posting updates about your own projects allows you to promote your work. Why not try tweeting a photo of interesting architecture in your region or information about events you are organising? Twitter can be great for CPD, as you can join in conferences from afar using hashtags (such as #ihbctweet, which we used for the summer school). Creating lists on Twitter can also be useful as it allows you to assemble a collection of tweets from accounts linked to a topic of your choice. Don’t worry how many Keeping up to date with the IHBC’s Twitter feed (Photo: E=MC2 Public Relations)