Police look to deepen online presence

Five months after launching a Facebook page, the Hong Kong Police are now in the search for digitally-savvy people to help them engage with the public via social media.Yes, social media has become the latest tool to fight the PR battle, but it hasn't always gone their way.In response, the Hong Kong Police are now looking to appoint a new media writer and designer, in a bid to deepen its social media presence and improve its public image. The position for new media writer will come with a monthly salary of $40,000, while the designer will be offered $27,000.The social media writer, which was listed as a non-civil service opening on the Civil Service Bureau website, is responsible for social media-related research, information and message of dissemination, drama, story, script and textual content writing (both Chinese and English), as well as publicity and promotions and emergency duties.According to the job description, candidates should have a bachelor’ degree from a university in Hong Kong, or equivalent, with disciplines in communications, journalism or translation with at least five years of relevant experience in community engagement, corporate communications, public relations, interactive media, advertisement or social media marketing in a sizable organisation, with the use of mobile applications, interactive, digital and/or social media platforms.Advertised alongside the new writer position was another new position new media designer, the job duties include creating and preparing of design and art work, graphic or infographic design and production of animation.Successful candidates will be appointed on one-year non-civil service contract terms while the application deadline is 24 March.However, be that digitally savvy communication personnel help the force engage better with the public through social platforms, online application is not available for both positions.According to 2016 Hays Asia salary guide, due to the shortage of talent, candidates of content marketing will remain highly sought after. For the positions like digital communication or content manager, they can earn from $480,000 to $780,000 a year, hence the $40,000 salary is close to the market average.In an earlier interview with the force, the spokesperson told Marketing that to develop various social media platforms, a new section under Police Public Relations Branch was set up in July 2015.