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Policies - Media Policy
Ground
Rules:
Interviews should be arranged by appointment through the Shadow
Council office. This protects you from being caught "off
guard" and gives you time to prepare your thoughts on the
issue to be discussed.
Do not give interviews alone. An adult accountable to the Shadow
Council management committee should be present. This may be
useful if you are being pressurised to talk about issues you
feel uncomfortable with and provides a witness to what you say
if you feel you have been misrepresented.
Know your own boundaries. Do not feel forced to speak out about
issues that you feel are private or personal or that you know
nothing about.
Share press coverage. In allocating interviews the Project Worker
should try and share press coverage around members of the Shadow
Council whilst targeting people who have had a key role in specific
projects.
Get questions ahead of time so you can prepare and practice
your answers. Check with the person listening that your meaning
is clear.
Ask if you don't understand.
Correct wrong statements immediately.
Make sure your quote is accurate. In seeking quotes the Project
Worker/ Journalist may use a raise of questions to prompt ideas
but should take care not to "put words in people's mouths".
Once a quote has been collected it should be read back to the
person saying it, ideally in the context of the whole article,
to check that the meaning is accurate.
Arrange to arrive in plenty of time. Photographers and journalists
run to tight deadlines. Don't keep them waiting!
Tips:
Preparing press releases:
Submit press releases to all local papers (Fermanagh Herald,
Impartial Reporter, Fermanagh News) Give each a slightly different
angle to stop boredom and get a greater amount of information
across
Use no more than 16 words in first paragraph
Answer "Who What When Why" questions
Include admin details eg times dates how to register/attend
Put in quotes from a variety of named people
Give credit where appropriate but avoid giving self credit
Type press release in double spacing
Write continued or end at the bottom of each page
Provide contact name/tel no for further information
Try and spread out coverage over time (not three articles one
week and nothing for the next few months)
Keep copies of press articles
Mention funders as an aside detail
Submit press release on headed note paper
Remember: Journalists may edit your press release to fit in
with their word limits or "house style".
Radio interviews/interviews with a microphone:
Be yourself
Try to relax
Practice beforehand
Try not to speak too quickly
Pick no more than three main points with supportive arguments,
anecdotes and analogies
Keep it simple
Think positively
Dress comfortably
Keep your cool: avoid nervous movements, don't be defensive,
don't lose your temper
Don't
Waffle
Use jargon or abbreviations without explanation
Worry about umming and erring (it's natural!)
Read from notes
Information you can expect from the interviewer:
The area(s) to be covered by the interview
How long the interview will be
The context of the broadcast eg) Why do they want to do a piece
on this subject? Will they be talking to anybody else?
The audience the broadcast is aimed at
When the programme will appear Whether the interview is live
or recorded
Please Note: Any Press Releases or Interviews which may be
perceived as sensitive, controversial or critical nature, should
be raised with the Management Committee in advance.
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