Guidelines for Communication of the Thurgau Cantonal Administration (RLK) - Principles (RLK)

1. The authorities independently provide clear, comprehensive, and timely information about their activities of general interest.

2. Through active communication, the authorities promote the transparency and understandability of government actions and increase their acceptance.

3. In extraordinary cases, the principles of crisis communication apply.

4. All media companies are to be treated equally.

1. These guidelines apply to the communication of the Government Council, the departments, the State Chancellery, the offices and enterprises, as well as, in the event of its establishment, the Cantonal Leadership Staff.

2. Exempted are the media services of the Cantonal Police, the Public Prosecutor's Office, and the courts.

1. Means of Communication include, in particular, press releases, press conferences, websites, videos, posts on social media platforms, publications, responses to media inquiries, as well as presentations at public events.

2. All means of communication must adhere to the guidelines for the corporate identity of the Canton of Thurgau.

3. The departments, state chancellery, offices, and enterprises are free in their choice of means of communication and in the design of the content.

4. The departments may issue supplementary provisions regarding communication.

1. The coordination of external communication falls under the jurisdiction of the State Chancellery.

1. The Communications Office (COM) of the State Chancellery is the central management and coordination unit for the external communication of the authorities.

2. It is responsible for

1. providing clear, comprehensive, and timely information to the public about governmental activities of general interest

2. the central coordination of communication for the departments, State Chancellery, offices, and enterprises

3. advising and supporting the departments, State Chancellery, offices, and enterprises in the field of public relations

1. The Communication Office ensures the dissemination of information regarding the resolutions and deliberations of the Government Council in accordance with the principles of the Cantonal Constitution and these guidelines.

1. The distribution of press releases shall be conducted exclusively through the Communication Office.

2. The Departments, State Chancellery, offices, and enterprises shall be responsible for the content of the press releases.

1. The Office for Communication organizes the press conferences of the Government Council and can initiate them.

2. Anyone who wishes to hold a press conference must, as a rule, announce this in advance to the Office for Communication. The Office for Communication sends out the invitations.

1. The Communications Office supports and advises the departments, state chancellery, offices, and enterprises in responding to media inquiries.

1. The contents of counterstatements, corrections, or similar items are to be coordinated with the Communication Office.

1. The Communications Office maintains contact with the media.

2. It organizes regular meetings with members of the government council and media professionals.

1. The Communications Office manages, coordinates, and monitors the unified and service-oriented framework of the cantonal internet appearances in collaboration with the Brand Council.

2. The review point, consisting of a representative from the Office of Information Technology and the web publisher, is responsible for ensuring that cantonal websites conform to the visual identity.

3. In cases of deviations from the appearance of the Canton of Thurgau, the Communications Office orders corrections. To enforce these corrections, the State Secretary and the respective Senior Secretary may be involved.

4. The content responsibility for the internet appearances lies within the jurisdiction of the departments, the state chancellery, offices, and operations.

5. The Office of Information Technology supports the Communications Office in technical matters.

1. The Communications Office manages the official channels of the cantonal administration on social media.

2. Departments, the State Chancellery, offices, and enterprises may operate independent social media channels. The Communications Office provides support.

1. The Office for Communication publishes the election and voting results in a timely manner on the website www.tg.ch.

1. The Department of Communication offers media training for employees who regularly interact with the media.

2. New heads of departments are required to complete media training.

1. Employees shall be regularly, promptly, as simultaneously as possible, and in a manner appropriate to their level, informed about ongoing projects as well as resolutions.

2. Regarding personnel-related decisions and topics, employees shall be informed before the public.

1. The following channels are particularly available for internal communication: through the line via departments, state chancellery, offices, and enterprises; intranet; staff magazine; e-mail; informational events.

2. The employees obtain information through the channels provided.

1. The Communication Office informs about resolutions of the Government Council that are of general interest to the staff.

2. For larger projects or events, the Communication Office can be consulted for professional and appropriate internal communication.

3. The Communication Office, in collaboration with the Personnel Office, publishes an employee magazine.

1. The Personnel Office has authority over matters related to personnel and informs through the line.

2. The heads of departments are responsible for passing on all relevant information to their employees.

3. The departments, state chancellery, offices, and businesses are responsible for their own internal communication. They are free to choose their means of communication and the design of the content.

1. The Procurement of Publications for the Government Council and the Departments, State Chancellery, Offices, and Enterprises is carried out by the Office Supplies, Teaching Materials, and Printing Center (BLDZ) or in agreement with it.

1. The awarding of external contracts in the field of public relations is the responsibility of the departments, state chancellery, offices, and enterprises.

2. Contracts for political campaigns in anticipation of cantonal referendums or decisions of the Grand Council are not permitted.

3. The awarding of contracts in the fields of graphics, video, and photography is the responsibility of the departments, state chancellery, offices, and enterprises.

1. The Communication Office must be informed about the creation of audiovisual materials. This excludes teaching aids and exhibition media.