ABSTRACT

Social media has many advantages for professional communication – but it also carries considerable risks, including legal pitfalls. This book equips students and communication professionals with the knowledge and skills to help minimise the risks that can arise when they post or host on social media.

It offers them strategies for taking advantage of the opportunities of social media while also navigating the ethical, legal, and organisational risks that can lead to audience outrage, brand damage, expensive litigation and communication crises. The book uses stakeholder theory and risk analysis tools to anticipate, identify, address and balance these opportunities and risks. It takes a global approach to risk and social media law, drawing on fascinating case studies from key international jurisdictions to explain and illustrate the basic principles.

Whether you are a corporate communicator, social media manager, journalist, marketer, blogger or student you will find this book an essential addition to your professional library as the first reference point when social media and legal risks arise.

part 1|32 pages

Social media law and risk management

chapter 2|10 pages

Theory into practice

Why is stakeholder theory important?

part 2|27 pages

Social media attributes contributing to opportunity and risk

chapter 4|11 pages

The role of the audience

Embracing the opportunities social media presents

chapter 5|14 pages

Managing legal risk in a wired world

General and specific approaches to minimising damage for stakeholders

part 3|27 pages

Brand and reputational opportunity and risk

part 4|27 pages

Risks at the intersection of human rights, law and ethics

chapter 8|12 pages

Privacy in social media

chapter 9|13 pages

See you in court

Fair coverage versus a fair trial

part 5|41 pages

Legal risks of social media in business