McKenzie County Farmer - Latest News

M.K. French
Farmer Staff Writer

In a move aimed at bolstering transparency and fostering stronger community engagement, the City of Watford City officially launched its dedicated social media presence this week, coinciding with North Dakota League of Cities Government Week (April 7th-11th). The initiative marks a significant step in the city’s efforts to connect directly with residents and visitors, providing timely and accurate information on city governance, events, services, and ongoing initiatives.

For Brock White, the City of Watford City Marketing & Communications Coordinator, this launch has been a long-term goal. “We’ve been working towards this launch for a couple of years now,” White explained. The decision comes after recognizing the limitations and potential liabilities of the previously utilized “Hello Watford City, North Dakota” Facebook page, which was originally managed by McKenzie County Tourism and had evolved into a broad platform for various entities. “Through discussions with City, County, and our leadership, it was determined the best course of action was to split the pages off and make our digital presence more official along with developing strong internal and external policies,” White stated.

The newly established official “City of Watford City” pages on Facebook (CityofWatfordCityND), Instagram (CityofWatfordCityND), and YouTube (WatfordCity) aim to be the primary source for verified city information. “The goal is to deliver accurate, timely information, and create a deeper understanding of how the city operates to serve its residents,” White emphasized. Residents can expect to find updates on road closures, city maintenance projects, job postings, meeting notices, and much more. “If it’s deemed of importance to communicate to the residents, we’ll do our best to get it out on the pages,” he added.
The transition from the former “Hello Watford City, North Dakota” page on Facebook and Instagram is now complete, with those platforms rebranded as “Hello Watford City - The Official Page of McKenzie County Tourism.” This separation allows both the City and the Tourism board to focus their digital communication strategies effectively.

White believes that establishing an official presence on multiple platforms is crucial in today’s digital landscape. “In this digital attention economy, you need to be in all the places where people want to search for their news and information,” he asserted. “It was time for the city to plant a flag and let everyone know where they can get information from a verified, legitimate source.”

Content on the City’s social media channels will aim to connect residents with the inner workings of their local government. “We want to connect the residents with the employees, leadership and initiatives that are being taken every day to deliver the great quality of life Watford City is known for,” White explained, envisioning content ranging from highlighting city employees to announcing important public safety information.

To ensure accuracy and maintain a positive online environment, the City has developed comprehensive Social Media and Comment Policies. “In the lead-up to launching this page, we’ve developed official Social Media Policy that dictates who, what and how we approach the content and engagement on our pages. There’s a chain of command and structure that ensures items are vetted for accuracy before being shared publicly,” White noted. He hopes that this official presence will “break down barriers and help connect residents with their city government,” fostering opportunities for constructive feedback.

The shared YouTube channel, @HelloWatfordCity, will continue to host “The Living in McKenzie County Podcast,” a collaborative effort between the City and McKenzie County, offering insights into the region’s development and community initiatives. Hosted by Daniel Stenberg (McKenzie County Economic Development Director) and Vawnita Best (City of Watford City Community & Business Development Director), and produced by White, the podcast has already garnered significant attention. The channel will also feature a variety of other original video content showcasing Watford City and McKenzie County.

As the point person for the City’s digital outreach, White acknowledges the challenges of cutting through the online noise. “We hope that a consistent, accurate approach, mixed with quality content will allow us to capture residents’ attention,” he said. Success will be measured through standard metrics like reach, follows, and engagement.

Ultimately, White’s message to the residents is one of commitment to truth and transparency. “It’s our sincere goal to deliver you the most truthful and accurate information that we can, in a manner that is hopefully worthy of engagement,” he concluded, urging residents to “Follow, share, and engage!” with the new official City of Watford City social media channels.

Stay Connected with Watford City:
Facebook: CityofWatfordCityND
Instagram:CityofWatfordCityND
YouTube: WatfordCity
Website: cityofwatfordcity.gov

Visit www.watfordcitynd.com and subscribe to the McKenzie County Farmer today!