Brookline discusses tighter media and social‑media rules, delays vote for more review

Christina Metcalf, Brookline’s communications officer, presented an updated media engagement policy and a revised social‑media policy during the Select Board’s July 1 meeting, then the board agreed to delay final approval to allow more review and follow‑up.

Metcalf described the media engagement policy as a codification of the procedures she already follows: departmental staff should loop her in when they receive media inquiries so the town can coordinate responses and avoid contradictory statements. “It clarifies the rules,” she said, explaining the policy asks staff to note deadlines, identify who can speak on behalf of departments and escalate questions to division heads when necessary.

The social‑media policy update, Metcalf told the board, modernizes a 2017 document and addresses account creation, authorized users, training, naming conventions and archiving. “We have a social@brooklinema…