The National Genealogical Society has announced its new Social Media Policy. This policy begins immediately and will be in effect for the NGS 2012 Family History Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio, 9–12 May 2012.
Except by specific prior written permission, NGS does not permit the recording of presentations at the NGS Family History Conference under any circumstances or in any form or media, including but not limited to audio recordings, still photography, video recordings, or literal transcripts. (JAMB, Inc. contracts with NGS to audio record the lectures of speakers who provide their written consent to be recorded. CDs may be purchased at the conference or ordered after the conference for $12 per CD.)
NGS permits and encourages the use of social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and blogging at the conference as a way to summarize, highlight, excerpt, review, critique, and/or promote the presented materials, syllabus materials, or the conference in general, provided that
1. the material is not shared in full, and
2. the author or speaker is referenced and cited appropriately in each case.
Please keep in mind that our presenters have invested many hours in the development of this material and copyright laws apply.
Out of respect for the other participants, we ask that noise-making electronic devices be silenced, though they need not be turned off, so that they may be used to follow along in the syllabus, tweet, or take notes in accordance with the above stated social media policy.
We encourage participants in the conference to:
• Follow us on Twitter (@ngsgenealogy).
• Friend us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/ngsgenealogy).
• Subscribe to the NGS conference blog at http://conference.ngsgenealogy.org.
• Send us a tweet @ngsgenealogy for general information or use the hashtag #ngs2012 for Annual Conference-related tweets.
• Blog, post, and tweet about what you are hearing and seeing at the conference (highlighting or commenting on, but not sharing in detail, any of the material presented).
• Suggest sessions to attend and luncheons to enjoy; chat about products and services in the Exhibit Hall.
• Feel free to take and share photographs at any time in the Exhibit Hall.
• Request the permission of speakers if you would like to take their photograph directly before or after a session. (Unless you are an official NGS photographer, please obtain the permission of the speaker before taking pictures, and please take photographs only before a session starts, or after it concludes.)
• Provide feedback to NGS staff and the Program Committee. (For example, you could discuss topics of interest and/or speakers for next year's conference, make suggestions for sessions, or comment on the conference format.)
• Keep criticism constructive.
We request that participants in the conference refrain from:
• Using audio and/or video recording devices. These are strictly prohibited in sessions and in the Exhibit Hall, except in the interview area or by prior written agreement.
• Using photographic devices during sessions.
• Using photographic devices in the session rooms without permission of the speaker.
• Capturing, transmitting, or redistributing syllabus materials or the bulk of the material presented in a session. Doing so infringes on the intellectual property rights of the speakers.
• Engaging in rudeness or personal attacks.
NGS Social Media Policy
