No. 950
SECTION: COMMUNITY
TITLE: NEWS MEDIA RELATIONS
WILSON
ADOPTED: October 4, 1995
SCHOOL DISTRICT
REVISED: December 20, 2010
950. NEWS MEDIA RELATIONS
1. Purpose Representatives of the media including local press, radio and TV are an important
link in the communications chain between school and community. The maintenance
of good working relationships with media representatives is essential to meeting
those objectives of the school/community relations program which require the
support and cooperation of the news media.
2. Authority The Board shall have the final approval for all basic policies concerning relations
between the media and the District.
The Board reserves the right to negotiate for radio broadcasting, televising, filming,
sound recording or Internet streaming of any school event by an outside agency.
These rights, if sold, shall be contracted under conditions that bring the most
favorable terms to the District.
3. Delegation of The chief communication representative for the Board shall be the Superintendent
Responsibility and/or his/her designee.
The chief communication representative of the Board shall:
1. Be available to media representatives.
2. Without violating confidentiality guidelines, provide media representatives, upon
their request, with all facts that give a true picture to the best of his/her
knowledge.
3. Keep media representatives fully informed of all aspects of the District so that
reporting will be done on the basis of a complete and valid overview.
4. Submit or suggest feature stories or articles of interest or relevance.
5. Assist various school related groups in their relations with the media.
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6. Assist the Board in the preparation of regular and special publications to the
public.
7. Make presentations about the District to various community, civic and governing
bodies.
8. Serve as the initial district contact so as to disseminate information that is as
accurate as possible.
4. Guidelines The District will provide copies of moving pictures or videotapes of any District
sports contest to any person, school or other organization with the expressed, written
consent of the Director of Extracurricular Activities.
Submission of photographs to media or permission for media representatives to
photograph District subjects, personnel, or students during the school day shall be
authorized by the District’s chief communication representative and/or his/her
designee which would include the staff member supervising the event. This does not
apply to news media who are taking photos at extracurricular events.
Photographs, moving pictures or videotapes of a controversial nature, or that are
questionable with regard to individual rights of privacy, shall not be sanctioned.
References:
School Code – 24 P.S. Sec. 510
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