Nuclear Energy Insight
Fall 2012—This spring, the Nuclear Energy Institute staked out another outpost online: an NEI Facebook page that has more than 9,800 followers. On the page, you can view photos and videos, ask (and answer) questions, and connect with other nuclear energy enthusiasts.
“There’s a conversation going on about our industry all the time online, and a large part of that conversation has migrated to Facebook,” said Eric McErlain, senior manager of Web communications at NEI. “It’s important that NEI takes part in that conversation and listens to what folks are saying about our business.”
That doesn’t mean that the conversation is always serious. Overall, the page takes on a conversational tone not unlike an open house at an American nuclear energy facility. There is even the occasional contest to test your nuclear energy knowledge or, as with the recent haiku contest, just have some fun.
The Facebook page, along with NEI’s Twitter feeds, NEI Nuclear Notes blog, Flickr page and YouTube channel, and even a presence on Pinterest, allows NEI, the industry and the public to work together to cover milestones, debunk myths and promote clean, safe and reliable nuclear energy.
In addition to the main NEI feed, NEI also keeps two other Twitter feeds: The media team tweets under the handle @NEI_media, and Scott Peterson, NEI’s senior vice president of communications, joins the conversation with @Nuclear_policy.
Twitter has become especially useful in allowing NEI and its member companies to combat media misinformation. For example, in February, NEI and Entergy live tweeted during a PBS broadcast of a Frontline documentary on nuclear safety, calling out misinformation and directing viewers to additional resources. Working with Jerry Nappi, Entergy’s lead communicator at Indian Point, as well as Alex Schott, Entergy’s manager of social media, McErlain put together a game plan ahead of the broadcast to make sure industry was heard during the real-time conversation about the program.
One result: Frontline reporter Miles O’Brien re-tweeted NEI’s content, a fair and generous gesture that ensured that viewers got to hear all sides of the issue and allowed nuclear advocacy to reach an even wider audience.
“It was a great example of how NEI can work together with its members to manage a media event in real time,” said McErlain. “As we continue to implement important safety enhancements at our facilities, it will be critical for us to share that news and information with the public on whatever online platform they choose.”
Connect with NEI via social media:
@N_E_I - NEI's Main Twitter Feed
@NEI_media - NEI's Media Relations Department
@Nuclear_policy - NEI's Senior Vice President of Communications
Nuclear Energy Institute on Facebook
NEINetwork on YouTube
NEI Nuclear Notes Blog
N_E_I's Flickr Photostream
NEI on Pinterest
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Read more articles in Nuclear Energy Insight and Insight Web Extra.