MEDIA POLICY

As a public university supported with tax dollars, North Carolina Central University has a responsibility to be open and responsive to requests for information from the public and the news media.

Faculty and staff are encouraged to give interviews to the media when asked, and to provide information on matters within their field of expertise in a timely and courteous manner. You do not need permission from the Office of Public Relations before agreeing to an interview. The Office of Public Relations serves as a tool to help reporters find the right person to interview for a topic. As a courtesy, however, if faculty/staff agree to participate in an interview, please contact the Office of Public Relations so we may obtain a copy of the article and keep it in our files.

If you are not experienced in handling questions from the media, or have not established a relationship with the journalist who is requesting information, please feel free to contact the Office of Public Relations for tips on interviewing (i.e. answering questions for print media versus broadcast) or to address any concerns.

Administrators, faculty and staff should consult with the Office of Public Relations or the Office of Legal Affairs if they have questions about releasing information that may be of a sensitive nature,( i.e. firing of an employee, sexual harassment, etc.). If you are faced with a potentially controversial situation, it is crucial that you discuss the matter with communications staff in the Office of Public Relations before it becomes public. In instances where there is a question about the legality of releasing information, the Office of Public Relations and any other campus units receiving information requests should consult with the Office of Legal Affairs.