My policies

Even though my primary field of research and teaching is public policy analysis (mostly focused on environment – water/solid waste/urban sustainability), I have very rarely thought of writing explicit policies. In this case, I’m not referring to public policies (which I have written, and/or advised governments on how to best design an effective policy). I am talking about a pitching policy (e.g. what should people who want me to write about their stuff on my blog do or how should they contact me) or a Twitter policy (e.g. who should follow me, who shouldn’t, why people shouldn’t expect that I will follow everyone back).

I have recently began thinking about posting my policies, but I’m really conflicted. First, I recognize that publishing a Twitter or a pitching policy might detract rather than contribute to the dialog. Second, I realize that sometimes I don’t even follow my policies so closely (e.g. by the book). Third, it takes time to write these policies.

There are positive elements to policies. I find, for example, that Ike Piggott’s Twitter policy is very similar to what mine would be. I don’t really have the brain space to follow everyone back and I would feel very disappointed if people expected me by definition to follow back. I engage with everyone, but I don’t have the brain space to follow everyone. Not even with the Twitter lists or the TweetDeck/HootSuite columns.

I find as well that I enjoy the pitching policy that my friend Kate Trgovac has on her site. I find that some folks pitch me but then fail to follow up. Or I forget to write about their stuff and they simply write me off for the next event (for which, most likely, I may actually have time and/or want to write about).

As with anything I do, and with social media itself, my policies will probably evolve, but there are a few elements that I have begun to firm up with regards to my Twitter policy and my pitching policy.

Twitter (e.g. following me)

- I’m a noisy Tweeter. Follow me at your own risk. I won’t be upset if you unfollow me (and this is particularly true if we are friends – since, most likely, we are already connected via other social networking sites).
- I don’t respond well to pressure (of any kind). More often than not, I might actually decide NOT to do whatever I’m being pressured to do.
- Don’t take it personally. I don’t have the brain capacity to follow everyone back.
- I do engage with just about everyone who sends me an @ reply. So, feel free to @ reply me even if you don’t follow me (lots of people do that).
- I am incredibly appreciative of Follow Fridays and Twitter Lists. I just don’t do them. Rest assured, I really appreciate any gestures of kindness.

Pitching me

- Read my blog. That means, read at least a few entries. Realize that I write about a very broad variety of things.
- Don’t pitch me with a generic “Hello”. My name is Raul. It’s clearly written on every entry. Try to personalize it as much as you can.
- I have Acrobat Reader, but given the volume of requests I receive to write about stuff, you’d make my life 3 times easier if you provided me with text that I can just cut-and-paste. Easy peasy.
- Photos – it’d be fantastic if you could send me links to Creative-Commons-licensed photos from the get-go. Makes it easier for me to insert in my entry.
- I receive hundreds of emails a day. If I tell you “yeah, I’d love to write about this but I may forget” – please follow up. I won’t get mad if you send me three emails. Trust me, I’m way more understanding than people think.
- Pitching me via Twitter works only if you send me a personalized email to follow up. I receive hundreds of @ replies every day. I can’t recall everything even if I want to.

So, these are working drafts – feedback, as usual, is always appreciated.

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