Media Relations Policy for Faculty and Staff
Objectives
- to ensure consistency in communications with news media from across the University; and
- to help maintain the high level of credibility the University enjoys in its dealings with the media.
Rationale
Stories about people and projects in the news media can illuminate the University’s educational mission, advancing communications strategies designed to raise awareness by the public of the intellectual and cultural resources on campus and of opportunities to be engaged in the life of the University. The news media also are important conduits of news and information during crises and emergencies. The University values its relationships with the news media and recognizes the value of engaging reporters, editors, broadcasters, and internet content providers in communicating about the University to mass audiences.
The Office of Marketing and Communications is the chief point of contact between the University and the news media for statements on behalf of the University. Through its media relations services, the Office seeks to serve the University’s purpose statement by providing honest, timely and useful information to all its internal and external stakeholders and audiences, and by helping the university understand, anticipate, and manage its environment.
Implementation
The Office of Marketing and Communications assists journalists with inquiries about the University and provides counsel to faculty, staff, and students in managing and working with the news media. All inquiries, including those to individual faculty and staff, from the media for statements on behalf of the University should as a matter of course be directed or reported to Marketing and Communications (for the College, Parker Oliver, pwoliver@sewanee.edu, and for the School of Theology, Vicki Borchers, vmborche@sewanee.edu). In most cases, the Office will recommend a spokesperson to speak on behalf of specific issues or news. For example, subject to their availability and interest, faculty members may be asked to serve as expert sources for news stories relating to the faculty member’s academic area of expertise. Sewanee's faculty and staff are available to provide analysis and context on a variety of topics. Members of the media may contact Marketing and Communications to connect with a Sewanee expert.
In some cases, typically crises and other sensitive issues, the associate vice president of Marketing and Communications, or their designee, serves as the University spokesperson and is responsible for speaking on behalf of the University.
Likewise, all outreach to the news media on behalf of the University in the form of press releases, press advisories, pitch letters and other vehicles shall be managed by the Office of Marketing and Communications.
