Using Smartphones in Police Operations: The Necessity of Media Literacy in Police Forces in the Age of Transparency

Abstract

The internet and especially social media networks had and still have a deep impact on the organizational communication. Beside the possibilities of self-representation, social media allow a fast dialogue between organization and its stakeholders—for enterprises as well as for public administration, such as the police. Moreover, not only the official PR departments use these channels, also employees use text, photograph, and video to inform about their experiences. The article deals with the upcoming fuzzy logic of many responders, the new age of transparency and dialogue, the lack of media literacy, and the role of high-rank police officers.