Media Policies and Procedures

The policies outlined below are to provide direction to residents and media personnel on the acceptable uses of our products and services.

Social Media Policy and Terms of Use

Brevard County recognizes and appreciates the rights of all members of our online community to free speech and freedom of expression. This page and all comments posted, however, are regularly monitored by administrators and, while comments will not be edited by County personnel, a comment may be removed from public view if it violates the social media policy described here.

Comments must be related to the posted topic for the social media page or post. The social media accounts are not meant for comments that do not directly relate to the purpose or topic of the social media website or for service requests.

The following is prohibited on all Brevard County social media pages:

• Graphic, crude, obscene, defamatory, threatening, sexually prurient, or explicit or racial comments or submissions
• Abusive, aggressive, hateful, or harassing language
• Attempts to defame or defraud any person(s), financial, commercial, or non-governmental agency
• Personal attacks of any kind or offensive comments that advocate unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, age, religion, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, physical or mental disability
• Comments advocating illegal activity or posting of material that violates copyrights or trademarks of others
• Content that violates intellectual property or copyright laws
• Personally identifiable information
• Commercial solicitations or advertisements including promotions or endorsements of any financial, commercial, or non-governmental agency unless on behalf of the County
• Statements that endanger public health, safety and security or statements that encourage, provide advice for or solicit the commission of a criminal act

Users are subject to the host site’s Terms of Use. Any user in violation of the Terms of Use will be reported. For more information, consult the host website’s Terms of Use directly – Facebook's terms , Twitter's term's , Instagram's terms . This Social Media Policy is subject to amendment or modification at any time. Social media sites are designated as a limited public forum*, any content posted is subject to public records retention and disclosure pursuant to Florida law. Opinions expressed by visitors to this page do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Brevard County Government.

SCGTV Operating Procedures

• The SCGTV Station Manager and/or Assistant Station Manager shall oversee the various phases of production for programming aired on SCGTV. SCGTV is responsible for televising local government meetings, government-sponsored activities and events, providing video production training when available, and offering limited technical assistance to agencies.
• The production of quality video programs requires experienced technical support.
• It shall be the policy of SCGTV to cooperate with all related news agencies (commercial, educational, and industrial) to the extent that cooperation will not interfere with the operation of SCGTV or its Procedures, Standards and Guidelines.
• SCGTV recognizes the jurisdiction of the Federal Communications Commission guidelines pertaining to television programming. All such guidelines will be adhered to in the approval of programs for broadcast. Accordingly, the following representative programming applies: (Also see Section H.)
• Meetings/Programs containing obscene, offensive or defamatory material/language shall not be broadcast on SCGTV. Community standards of good taste will be adhered to at all times. It shall be the responsibility of each contributing entity to assure that meetings/programs submitted to SCGTV shall not contain such material/language.
• Programs containing copyrighted materials will not be broadcast without proper copyright authorization. Staff submitting programs for broadcast are responsible for obtaining all necessary copyright clearance, and shall hold SCGTV, the SCGTV Council, Brevard County and its municipalities and other government entities participating, harmless in any case of copyright infringement.
• Copyright for creative properties (original scripts, music, artwork, etc.) shall accrue to the owner/creator of said property. Agreements between the owner/creator and SCGTV will contain the following assurance:
• Owner/creator shall grant SCGTV copyright clearance for the use of the property in an agreed-upon manner;
• Each party agrees to notify the other of any distribution of the program;
• Programs will not be sold, commercially distributed or loaned without prior approval of the Station Manager and/or Assistant Station Manager
• Programs, which have as the primary purpose to promote commercial/profit-making services, products, trade or business will NOT be broadcast on SCGTV
• SCGTV will not endorse any consumer products
• Discussion of any partisan issues approved for broadcast NOT adhering to equal time guidelines will NOT be broadcast on SCGTV (Also see Section P.2.(d).)

Presentation Policy

1. Only a separate stored video, Power Point or electronic presentation, of no more than three (3) minutes in length, will be accepted. Lengthy presentations for more than one presenter that require stopping and starting the same tape will not be accepted.
2. A person presenting a video, Power Point or other electronic presentation must state so on the speaker’s card. The presenter must be familiar with the content of the presentation or video and be able to address any questions relating to the presentation or video that may be raised by the Board, staff, or other citizens.
3. Any video, Power Point or other presentation that contains news footage, broadcast or organization/agency/commercial programming will not be shown unless presenter provides a written waiver for re-broadcast use from the entity holding the copyright.
4. No video, Power Point, or other electronic presentation promoting a commercial enterprise will be shown unless related to relevant agenda items.

Media Policy

The Communications office may handle media queries of a routine nature or direct reporters to the County staff member who is best able to respond to an inquiry. Media interviews regarding information of a non-emergency, non-controversial nature may be handled at the department level.  Communications staff functions as the primary media contact when the Emergency Operations Center is activated. 

Regarding photography, a waiver/disclaimer form must be completed by any person (or guardian, in the case of minors) whose recognizable image will be shows on Space Coast Government Television, posted on the County website, printed in documents distributed to the public, or for other promotional purposes. It is not required for County employees or elected officials, or for people attending a public meeting at which they have no expectation of privacy.

Photographs used in printed documents and submitted to the news media must be at least 300 dots per inch. Photos used on a website or on television need only to be 72 dots per inch. Communications/SCGTV staff is able to assist with photography needs on a limited basis.