COMMUNICATION AND SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY

COMMUNICATION AND SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY

Purpose and Scope

This policy covers communications with the media and the use of social media by Staff Members. This policy covers all ICC employees (including employed full-time, part-time, fixed-term, secondees from Member Boards, match officials and temporary staff), as well as consultants, contractors, volunteers, interns, and casual agency staff and any other staff member (“Staff Members”).

The nature of our work means that, unavoidably, we will be recognised as working for and associated with ICC at all times, whether at official ICC events or in the course of our day to day lives. As representatives of the ICC it is important that we all demonstrate high professional standards at all times and we all have a role to play in safeguarding the reputation of the ICC and the sport. This is especially important given the high profile that cricket commands around the world.

This is particularly true in relation to our communications with the media and through our use of social media. It is therefore essential that all of us comply with this policy at all times. We must all ensure that we have taken time to read and understand this policy and the guidelines attached.

Communications

This part of the policy covers the conduct of, and expectations on, Staff Members in interacting with the Media. The Media is defined as any component of the mass media communications industry including but not limited to print media (e.g. newspapers and magazines), broadcasters, websites, blogs, vlogs, podcasts and journalists who are anyone who seeks to publish news via these mediums.

Occasionally, Staff Members may be contacted by the Media requesting information about the ICC, its employees, directors or ICC Members or any other issues. In order to ensure that we are providing accurate and complete information to the Media which is not misleading, all Media enquiries must be referred to the ICC Media and Communications team. See below for team details including out of office hours contacts.

Staff Members may be contacted by the Media requesting interviews either in relation to their role as an ICC employee or in a personal or other capacity (in regard to cricket or otherwise). All such requests must be referred to the ICC Media and Communications team who will review the request and decide on the required action.

Additionally, Staff Members may be contacted by the Media to provide background on a particular issue. Staff Members must not provide any comment or information to the Media, either on or off the record about any matters without first referring the matter to the ICC Media and Communications team and acting in accordance with their guidance. In any event, information, documents or emails pertaining to the ICC must not be shared with the Media, without first referring the matter to the ICC Media and Communications team.

Providing any comment or information to the Media can bring the ICC, our Members or cricket as a whole into disrepute or may cause, harm to our reputation or otherwise be prejudicial to our interests.

Only Authorised Spokespeople are able to make or approve public statements about the ICC and this should be done with the prior involvement of the ICC Media and Communications team. Furthermore only the ICC Media and Communications team is authorised to brief the Media. On occasions, and with the prior agreement of the ICC Media and Communications team, Authorised Spokespeople can brief the media with agreed lines.

Authorised Spokespeople for the ICC are:

CEO

GM – Marketing and Communications

GM – ACU

GM – Cricket

GM – Development

GM – Commercial

Head of Events

Social Media

This part of the policy covers the use of all forms of social media (including without limitation, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Snap, Instagram, WhatsApp, Pinterest, TikTok and LinkedIn, other social networking sites, texting (and other mobile phone applications), photo/video sharing and other internet postings (including Wikipedia), including webcasting, blogs/vlogs.

It applies to the use of social media for both business and personal purposes by Staff Members, during working hours and in your own time to the extent that it may affect the business of the ICC. The policy applies both when social media is accessed using the ICC IT systems and also when accessed using equipment or software belonging to Staff Members or others.

Whilst we recognize the benefits which are gained from appropriate use of social media, it is also important to bear in mind that the internet is a public network, and anything published on the internet or any social media platform can be viewed by anyone at any time. This therefore poses significant risks to our business. These risks include disclosure of confidential information and intellectual property, damage to our reputation and the risk of legal claims.

The principles set out in these guidelines should be considered and followed by Staff Members at all times when posting on social media platforms.

Expectations of use

• Social media should never be used in a way that breaches any of our other policies. For example, you are prohibited from using social media to:

  1. breach our IT policies;

  2. breach our obligations with respect to the rules of relevant regulatory bodies;

  3. breach any obligations contained in those policies and/or in your contract of employment or any other relevant agreement relating to confidentiality;

  4. breach our Disciplinary Policy

  5. harass or bully other staff in any way or breach our Bullying and Harassment Policy;

  6. breach our Equal Opportunities Policy; or

  7. breach any other laws or regulatory requirements

• You should make it clear in social media postings, or in your personal profile, that you are speaking on your own behalf. Examples of this include: Views are all my own; All my own personal views; comments and opinions are my own / are personal; tweets are my own and do not represent the views of the ICC. Write in the first person and use a personal e-mail address. Notwithstanding the above, the requirements of the rest of this social media policy (including the Prohibited uses below) still apply regardless of whether your use of social media is in a personal or other capacity.

• Be respectful to others when making any statement on social media and be aware that you are personally responsible for all communications which will be published on the internet for anyone to see.

• If you disclose your affiliation with us on your profile or in any social media postings, you must state that your views do not represent those of your employer (save for Authorised Spokespeople on the basis set out above). You should also ensure that your profile and any content you post are consistent with the professional image you present to clients and colleagues.

• If you are uncertain or concerned about the appropriateness of any statement or posting, refrain from posting it until you have discussed it with the ICC Media and Communications team.

• If you see social media content that disparages or reflects poorly on us, you should let the ICC Media and Communications team know.

Prohibited use

• You must avoid making any social media communications that damage, or may cause damage to our reputation, our business interests or otherwise be prejudicial to our interests, whether directly or indirectly.

• You must not use social media to defame or disparage us, our staff or any third party, harass, bully or discriminate against staff or third parties, make false or misleading statements or to impersonate colleagues or third parties.

• You must not express opinions on our behalf via social media, unless expressly authorised to do so by the ICC Media and Communications team.

• You must not post comments about sensitive business-related topics, such as our performance, or do anything to jeopardise our trade secrets, confidential information and intellectual property.

• You should never provide references for other individuals on social or professional networking sites unless agreed with HR, as such references, positive and negative, can be attributed to us and create legal liability for both you and us.

Monitoring

In order to ensure that our rules are being complied with and for legitimate business purposes, we reserve the right to monitor, intercept and review, without further notice, Staff Member activities using our IT resources and communications systems, including but not limited to social media postings and activities.

You consent to such monitoring by your use of such resources and systems. For further information, please also refer to our IT policies.

Personal use of Social Media

Personal use of social media during working hours is permitted so long as it does not involve unprofessional or inappropriate content, does not interfere with your employment responsibilities or productivity and complies with this policy.

Breaches

Breach of this policy (or any part thereof) may result in disciplinary action up to and including dismissal without notice and/or payment of an end of service gratuity.

You may also be required to remove any social media content that we consider to constitute a breach of this policy. Failure to comply with such request may in itself also result in disciplinary action as set out above.

Any failure to follow this policy, including any misuse of social media should be reported as soon as reasonably possible to the HR Manager and/or the GM Marketing and Communications.

If you have any questions regarding the content or application of this policy please reach out to the HR Manager and/or the GM Marketing and Communications.

This policy is not contractual and the ICC reserves the right to amend it at any time if we consider it appropriate to do so.

ICC Media and Communications team contact numbers

Claire Furlong – GM Marketing and Communications

+971 50 640 1106

Raj Rao

+971 50 554 5029

Mary Godbeer

+971 56 545 8908

The following are guidelines for responsible use of social media to help you comply with the above Policy:

Do…

• Think carefully about what you are posting and remember that what you say is permanent.

• Where possible, make it clear that your personal account is indeed your personal account and any views or opinions expressed are your own and not those of the ICC.

• Be sensitive about who may read anything you post and post accordingly - what you post may find its way into the public domain. Do not insult anyone or say anything that could be construed as offensive. Behave professionally and in a manner, which reflects the spirit of the game. Remember that harassment and any form of discriminatory remarks are never appropriate and are unacceptable in a personal capacity or otherwise.

• Be aware that you are solely responsible for anything posted on your social media page, whether posted by you or someone else.

• Ensure that your privacy settings are set up to ensure that you are only communicating with connections who you want to communicate with and who you are happy to see your posts.

• If you make a mistake, rectify it or address it immediately, for example by deleting the post. Where you consider the matter to be serious or you become aware of others inappropriate conduct, report any such incident to the ICC Media and Communications team.

• Post, share or re-tweet ICC official posts or tweets where you consider they may be of interest to your friends and/or social media connections.

• Lastly, if you encounter any criticism of the ICC or come across a post that appears detrimental to the ICC and/or the sport of cricket, or factually incorrect, report it to the ICC Media and Communications team for it to be dealt with by way of the official ICC communication channels. Do not respond to it yourself.

Don’t…

• Post anything that may bring the ICC, its Members, teams, cricketers, sponsors or other commercial partners or the game of cricket as a whole into disrepute or may cause, harm to our reputation or otherwise be prejudicial to our interests.

• Post content either in part or in full or photographic depictions of any official internal documentation relating to the ICC, including but not limited to Tournament Staff Handbooks, Policies, Contracts & Accreditation Passes.

• Use your position as an ICC Staff Member and the access and privileges that may provide to request photos, videos, and the like from players, former players or people within the public eye. We are staff, not fans and as such should maintain a professional approach at all times.

• Use your position as an ICC Staff Member and the early access to key information to post on your social media accounts. You should always retweet, repost, share or link to official ICC social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram etc.) for all key information related matters.

• Post anything that may offend, insult, humiliate, intimidate, threaten, disparage, vilify or unlawfully discriminate between persons based on their race, religion, culture, gender, sexual orientation, lifestyle choice, colour, descent and/or national or ethnic origin.

• Post anything that is considered confidential or private, whether relating to the ICC, its Members, teams, cricketers, sponsors or other commercial partners.

• Post comments on teams’ or individual player’s performances.

• Take credit for content which is not your own. Always acknowledge the proprietary owner.

• Use your social media accounts to attack or abuse colleagues, the ICC, its Members, teams, cricketers, sponsors or other commercial partners or the game of cricket as a whole. You should respect the privacy and feelings of others.

• When attending work-related events, use common sense before posting photographs or other content relating to that event so as not to post anything private, confidential or which may reflect negatively on the ICC, its Members, teams, cricketers, commercial partners, including broadcasters, digital partners and sponsors, staff or other commercial partners or the game of cricket as a whole.

• Breach copyright belonging to us.