Media Policy: Journalists and what to say

Media Policy What to do if a journalist contacts you…   By telephone: Advise the caller you do not handle media enquires and that these are handled by the Designated Media Officer Request the caller’s full name, company they are calling from, their telephone number and email address Thank the caller for their call and advise that you will pass on their enquiry to the Designated Media Officer Forward the contact details via email to John Carpenter on carpenter@bsqgroup.co.uk, who acts as the “Designated Media Officer”. Do not volunteer Designated Media Officer’s contact details to the caller If the caller is persistent, advise them that you can’t provide any information due to Data Protection   By email or Kayako: Forward the email (including email address and time sent) in its entirety to carpenter@bsqgroup.co.uk If the enquiry was received by Kayako, you should then close the ticket by setting the status to “Closed – No Survey” and select “Update”   By LiveChat Advise the messenger you do not handle media enquires and that these are handled by the Designated Media Officer Request the messenger’s full name, company they are calling from, their telephone number and email address Thank the messenger for their enquiry and advise that you will pass it to the Designated Media Officer Forward the contact details via email to John Carpenter on carpenter@bsqgroup.co.uk, who acts as the “Designated Media Officer”. Do not volunteer Designated Media Officer’s contact details to the caller If the messenger is persistent, advise them that you can’t provide any information due to Data Protection How do you know you are speaking to a journalist? Journalists will usually identify themselves and the news organisation they work for. If the communication has been received electronically, you can also check their email address, for example [NAME]@dailymail.co.uk, [NAME]@mirror.co.uk or [NAME]@reachplc.com. Why it is imperative you follow this policy Due to data protection, it is extremely important that no information is given out regarding our customers or companies using our services – including whether a customer or company is using our services or has any relationship with us, past or present. The Professional Conduct and Public Statements section of the Company Handbook states the following: All employees have a responsibility to act in good faith and to promote the good name and effectiveness of their employer. You are expected to be trustworthy and to conduct yourself reasonably at all times. No employee is permitted to give press or other media interviews or assist with or be involved in the publication of any article relating to the business affairs of the organisation or in relation to t he organisation’s intellectual property, without prior consent from a company Director. Any breach of this policy could lead to disciplinary action being taken against you. This policy is also available on the SST Knowledgebase You can find this policy on the – Media Policy: What to say to journalists – has been created in the SST Knowledgebase, and can be found here. This Policy can also be found in the London and Glasgow Share Drive in the following locations: Glasgow -> Media Policy London Share Drive -> Media Policy