The United States Department of Defense (DoD) in February adopted a new policy toward staff access to social sites such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, YouTube and others.

The policy, which covers everyone from Pentagon-based staff to soldiers in the field, calls for open access or, as stated on the Defense Department’s Social Media Hub: “…the default for the DoD non-classified network (the NIPRNET) is for open access so that all of DoD can use new media.”

In this FIR interview, co-host Shel Holtz speaks with Pentagon new and emerging media strategist Jack Holt about the rationale for the decision and the implications for the DoD.

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About our Conversation Partner

Charles J. “Jack” Holt, APR, is the Senior Strategist for Emerging Media for the Department of Defense developing communication strategies and tactics incorporating new-media tools with traditional public affairs channels to maximize the effect of DoD communication efforts. Holt has briefed senior leaders on new and social media and conducted strategy sessions to address corporate level strategic objectives.

Jack is a member of the vGov Steering Committee, the DoDTechipedia Governance Board, the University of Oklahoma Risk and Crisis Management Community Advisory Board, and is the 2009 Chair for the PRSA National Capital Region Public Affairs and Government Committee. He has taught sessions on new media strategies and tactics at the Defense Information School, the Naval Postgraduate School and the NATO School.

For those curious about Jack’s reference to his father, a Hollywood actor, he was Tim Holt, who appeared in more than 70 films, including “Treasure of the Sierra Madre” and “My Darling Clementine.”)

The DoD directive on social media appears below:

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This FIR Interview is brought to you with Lawrence Ragan Communications, serving communicators worldwide for 35 years. Information: www.ragan.com.

Podsafe music – On A Podcast Instrumental Mix (MP3, 5Mb) by Cruisebox.

(Cross-posted from For Immediate Release, Shel’s and my podcast blog.)