Responding to Media Inquiries UPPS No. 06.05.02

Issue No. 6

Effective Date: 05/30/2008

Review: February 1 E4Y

01. POLICY STATEMENTS

01.01 This UPPS provides guidelines to university personnel who receive inquiries from media and persons who wish to film on campus.

01.02 Related Laws and Policies: Additional information and guidance for complying with requests for public information may be found in UPPS No. 01.04.00, Appropriate Release of Information.

02. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE NEWS MEDIA LIAISONS

02.01 The Director of University News Service (UNS) and Assistant Director of UNS are the University's official news media liaisons. The Chief Sports Information Officer is the official news media liaison regarding athletics but keeps UNS informed of issues with major media impact. The University Attorney should be consulted when inquiries involve legal matters or matters in litigation. In such instances, the University Attorney may serve as the University’s spokesperson. All Texas Public Information Act requests should be directed to the office of the University Attorney.

02.02 It is in the best interest of the University that news media representatives have confidence in the UNS Director and UNS staff. It is important that the UNS staff, with the full cooperation of all segments of the University, always practice policies and procedures that will gain the respect and confidence of the press.

02.03 If a potentially newsworthy event occurs, the UNS Director will get the facts to the appropriate media as quickly as possible.

02.04 In the event of a potentially newsworthy event, the UNS Director should assemble all pertinent facts, outline strategy for notifying media, and receive administrative approval for the notification of news media. The University may designate one or more spokespersons for the event.

02.05 Because of the need to maintain credibility with both the press and public, the UNS Director is authorized to release information pertaining to emergencies, crime, controversies, and other events to which the press has a reasonable interest. This will be done after carefully assembling facts, notifying pertinent persons, and clearing the information with the appropriate vice president.

03. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY

03.01 University administrators should keep the UNS Director or Assistant Director fully informed, factually and promptly, about activities in their areas of responsibilities that may come to the attention of the media.

03.02 Employees with tips on possible news stories are encouraged to call UNS with the information. The UNS staff will evaluate the tip for its news value and handle media notification as warranted.

04. PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO MEDIA INQUIRIES

04.01 When University personnel are contacted by media representatives requesting information or making inquiries into matters pertaining to the University, they should follow these procedures:

a. Get the reporter's name and contact information, including the name of the media outlet for which he or she works.

b. An employee who receives a news media contact should notify his or her supervisor or the Director or Assistant Director of UNS. As long as time factors are taken into consideration, it is permissible to take a number, ask what topic will be covered, and immediately return a call. This allows the person queried the opportunity to seek advice.

c. University personnel should refer media inquiries directly to the UNS Director or the appropriate vice president when:

1) UNS has already received information concerning the subject for which information is being sought;

2) The inquiry deals with an area that lies within or is shared with another administrative area;

3) The inquiry deals with a university-wide matter or policy;

4) The inquiry deals with a controversial or sensitive matter;

5) The inquiry deals with a matter of proposed or alleged university policy;

6) The media are on campus and need an informed escort; or

7) The inquiry requests information that is confidential or legally protected from disclosure.

d. The UNS Director will work with the appropriate vice presidents or their designees in preparing responses to media inquiries that fall in any of the areas outlined in Section 04.01 c. above.

e. If the person contacted is the information custodian for the information being requested, he or she should give the reporter his or her full cooperation to the extent allowed under laws and policies listed in UPPS No. 01.04.00, Appropriate Release of Information.

f. When answering questions, personnel should be fair and factual.

g. Normally, persons interviewed are expected to comment only on matters within their expertise. If a reporter asks for a comment on a subject about which the person being interviewed has no knowledge or about which he or she does not wish to comment, he or she should not hesitate to tell the reporter so. In such instances the person should refer the reporter to UNS.

h. Employees should use caution if a reporter promises not to use their names in a story about a controversial issue.

i. When an employee of the University gives a personal opinion on the subject, he or she should make certain that the reporter understands that he or she is speaking for himself or herself, not for the University.

j. Persons interviewed should not assume they will see a reporter's story before it is published or broadcast. The newsperson is under no obligation to show copy. If scientific or technical data are involved, the person interviewed should suggest that the reporter check his or her story back for accuracy, particularly if the reporter is not a writer specializing in the field. Some reporters are willing to check the technical data back with the source to assure accuracy if time permits. As a safeguard, technical data should be provided in written form whenever possible.

k. Because the term "off the record" means different things to different reporters, it is unwise to request that reporters consider remarks as "off the record."

l. In some instances, the employee may wish to have a colleague or the Director of UNS join him or her for the interview. Should the interview take place via the telephone, always let the reporter know when it is a conference call.

04.02 After answering or receiving a press inquiry, notify the Director of UNS of the call and your response as quickly as possible. University employees who receive calls on University policy matters beyond their scope of authority should refer them either to their supervisor or to UNS.

04.03 Reporters who formally request interviews, the opportunity to attend classes or visit clinics or special programs should be handled somewhat differently from those who make a one-time request for information. Subject to the agreement of the reporter involved, the following procedure is recommended:

a. Inform the reporter that he or she will be provided assistance in developing a schedule and that a location for his or her interviews will be provided.

b. Obtain the reporter's arrival schedule.

c. Whenever possible, the top administrator for the involved area (vice presidents for service divisions; college deans for Academic Affairs), the UNS Director or other UNS representative, and the program director (department chair) should meet with the reporter upon his or her arrival on campus.

d. A UNS representative, with the administrator's assistance, will serve as a liaison to work with the reporter in locating classrooms, keeping on schedule and providing any additional assistance the reporter might need.

e. The UNS representative or the administrator should designate a location for the reporter to use to conduct his or her interviews, if he or she desires.

f. If possible, a wrap-up session should be scheduled in the administrator's office.

g. If a major state or national medium is involved, UNS should decide if the reporter should be invited to meet the President of the University, or the President's official designee. The UNS Director should work with the President's Office to schedule a convenient time.

04.04 University personnel should be careful in their dealings with out-of-town media representatives who make repeat visits or telephone contact concerning a single story over an extended period of time. If a reporter contacts a staff member regarding a single story more than twice, no matter how non-controversial that story may seem, the staff member should notify his or her supervisor and the UNS Director immediately.

04.05 Controversial matters that continue for an extended period require special considerations for handling news media inquires. The UNS Director and Assistant Director should develop plans for handling such situations on an individual basis and should be notified after each separate media contact has been made.

05. PROCEDURES FOR HOLDING PRESS CONFERENCES

05.01 Press conferences are held for the convenience of the media and to provide a format for the effective distribution of important information to the media. In developing the format for a press conference, it is important that media be considered our primary audience.

05.02 The Director of UNS will provide advice as to whether to schedule a news conference.

05.03 The UNS Director will advise regarding the following press conference factors:

a. The location of the press conference;

b. The time and date of the press conference;

c. Press conference invitation list;

d. Format for the press conference; and

e. Identification of which University officials should attend.

05.04 It is important to carefully consider the desirability of having a press conference. Some matters require face-to-face press conference settings, while others are handled more efficiently in a news release format or by individual media contact.

05.05 Whenever a press conference is scheduled, those involved should understand that the press conference is a question and answer situation. Great care should be exercised to have answers assembled for all questions that might be asked.

05.06 UNS will distribute key points of the press conference in a written statement either before or after the conference.

05.07 Those local news media invited to the press conference who did not attend should be provided any written material presented at the press conference as well as copies of all follow-up UNS-issued conference reports.

05.08 As a matter of procedure, all press conference notification should be made at least 24 hours in advance.

06. CAMPUS FILMING POLICY

06.01 The Director or Assistant Director of UNS manages all requests for commercial non-news photography, film making or videotaping at Texas State. All inquiries of this nature should be directed to the Director or Assistant Director of UNS.

06.02 Once a decision has been made to permit film making, the UNS will work with the production company and in coordinating its efforts with all appropriate University offices.

06.03 The University will consider permitting the making of photographs, films and videotapes on campus for commercial non-news purposes on the basis of the following guidelines:

a. A production will be considered in terms of its size and complexity and to what degree it might disrupt classes and other normal campus activities. When possible, production will take place on weekends or during vacation periods.

b. The University expects the production to offer educational or otherwise worthwhile experiences to Texas State students. The University encourages the use of students as extras and production assistants for on-campus productions. The University requires that a copy of the production be donated to the University.

c. Anyone wishing to film on campus for commercial non-news purposes must submit in writing detailed information about the proposed project including locations, days and hours of shooting, number of people involved in each day’s shooting, types of activity to be filmed, list of equipment and vehicles used in connection with the filming, sizes and composition of structures involved, and security and safety requirements.

d. The information in “c.” above and a script must be submitted to the Director of UNS or the Assistant Director at least 30 days before filming. This requirement can be waived at the discretion of the University in the case of small productions.

e. The University reserves the right to review the script as a condition of project approval and to deny use of its facilities in cases where it considers the content of the film or project to be inconsistent with the University’s mission or image.

f. After locations are given tentative approval, the production company must take part in an initial meeting with representatives of all involved University departments. The production company must coordinate with University officials all logistical requirements and requests, including parking, equipment, transportation, etc. University representatives who should be considered for attendance at the initial meeting with the production company include the Vice President for University Advancement, the Director or Assistant Director of UNS, the Director of the University Police Department or a designee, the Supervisor of Parking Services, the Associate Vice President for Facilities or a designee, the University Attorney, the Director of Environmental Health, Safety, and Risk Management and the managers of any buildings used in production.

g. A commercial general liability insurance certificate with limits sufficient to cover the University’s liability exposure, naming the Board of Regents of the Texas State University System, Texas State University-San Marcos and its employees and agents as additional insureds, must be filed with the University Attorney at least 10 days before the first set-up day. In addition, if the company wishing to film at Texas State has three or more employees, it must furnish proof of worker’s compensation insurance.

h. The University reserves the right to require production companies to make a damage deposit prior to the arrival of any production vehicles on campus. The damage deposit will be refunded in full when the shooting locations are inspected by University officials and found to be in satisfactory condition. Special arrangements can be made for small productions.

i. Each production company will be charged a location fee. The standard fee is $3,500 per shooting day. Fees for set-up days are $1,000 per day. Location fees may be adjusted on a case-by-case basis.

j. The production company will compensate the University for actual hourly costs of University employees when utilized exclusive of their normal duties, such as security and maintenance personnel.

k. A shoot will be considered confirmed when a contract has been signed. The contract must contain a hold-harmless clause approved by the University Attorney. The production company must provide Texas State with an insurance certificate, damage deposit (if required), a check for the full amount of the location fee and a signed contract at least 24 hours before set-up begins. At that point, the conditions in the contract become operative.

l. The production company will adhere to all state laws and rules and regulations of the University and the Texas State University System Board of Regents while filming on the Texas State campus.

07. UNIVERSITY NEWS SERVICE COUNSELING PROCEDURES

07.01 The Director or Assistant Director of UNS may be contacted directly by a University administrator or employee for advice and counsel regarding media relations or public relations matters.

07.02 The Director and Assistant Director of UNS are responsible for advising University administrators of matters with potential media relations or public relations impact.

08. REVIEWERS OF THIS UPPS

08.01 Reviewers of this UPPS include the following:

Position Date

Director, University News Service February 1 E4Y

Vice President for University February 1 E4Y

09. CERTIFICATION STATEMENT

This UPPS has been approved by the following individuals in their official capacities and represents Texas State policy and procedure from the date of this document until superseded.

Director of University News Service; senior reviewer of this UPPS

Vice President for University Advancement

President