How to Handle Social Media Backlash | October SHSMG Event

Join our free events to hear from people in social media roles in the heritage sector, ask questions and pick up practical tips.

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EVENT DESCRIPTION

Concerned about your organisation getting caught in a social media firestorm? Unsure how best to react to critical online media coverage? If you work or volunteer in heritage communications, this event is for you.

For our October event, we’ll be hearing from David McLeod, Marketing Officer at Culture Perth & Kinross. David works across marketing and communications at Perth Art Gallery, Culture Perth and Kinross Libraries, and Perth Museum, which opened in 2024. He manages press around the Perth Museums’ temporary exhibitions including Unicorn and Waters Rising, which engaged directly with the topics of LGBTQ+ rights and climate change. Prior to this, he led on social media and marketing for Surgeons’ Hall Museums and Stirling Castle.

David will discuss the kinds of backlash he’s dealt with in his career, explain how it was handled, and share the outcomes. He’ll offer advice on what kind of comments demand a reaction and which are better left alone, share tips on preparing for potential backlash, and discuss strategies for reacting to online hate at short notice.

This online event will conclude with a Q&A session.

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SECURITY

Please use your full name (not a nickname or initials) when you register for this event, and when you log in on Zoom. For security reasons, we can't admit any attendees that aren't on the attendee list. If possible, please also use your organisational email address to register.

The meeting link and passcode will be emailed to attendees before the event.

Please note that attendees will also be required to sign in to Zoom on the day of the event to join the event.

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TELL US ABOUT YOUR CAMPAIGN, LAUNCH DATE, ETC.

SHSMG events are attended by communications folk from across the sector, so it’s a great opportunity to spread the word about a campaign you’d like them to know about (for example, a hashtag you’d like museum accounts to use) or a launch date that you want other organisations to avoid.

We’ll ask for this information during the event, but you can also contact us ahead of time if you can’t make it or would rather not speak up.

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

All attendees are expected to act with respect to one-another during this event and anyone making comments which we believe to be inappropriate or abusive will be removed from the event immediately.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us on LinkedIn or email scotheritagesmg@outlook.com.

Remember to join the conversation on LinkedIn using #SHSMG and sign up to our e-newsletter to be notified about additional events.

All SHSMG events are supported by Dig It!, a hub for Scottish archaeology. Dig It! is coordinated by the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland (Charity No SC010440) and primarily funded by Historic Environment Scotland.

Image credit: SELMA

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SPECIAL THANKS

Thanks to our fantastic sponsor, we're able to offer payment to all SHSMG speakers while keeping these events free for attendees:

"Whereverly create cultural and heritage tourism apps and websites.

We want tourists and locals to embrace local culture and heritage through music, song and stories, whilst discovering the hidden gems.

The Whereverly app and web platform makes creating a helpful tourism app easy. The content on Whereverly apps is produced for the most part by local communities, guides, heritage professionals, park rangers and local storytellers.

The Whereverly apps and website feature interactive maps, 3D maps, AR experiences, points of interests, favouriting and list building. As well as audio and non-audio walking, cycling, driving and rail tours. As well as music and stories delivered based on where the visitor is.

Example of our apps are Falkirk Explored, the North Coast 500, Scotland Starts Here, Explore Stirling, Highland Discovery and the Coig. We have developed supporting websites re-using the app content for the Coig and Scotland Starts Here. We are working on new heritage focussed projects which feature AR models, badge collecting and 3D maps."

For more information, visit Whereverly.com.