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RESPONSE TO THE MEDIA
POLICY STATEMENT
Under normal circumstances, all employees will inform the Executive Director/CPO, the Director of Development, and the Director of Operations, respectfully, of media visits well in advance. They will then inform the Boys & Girls Club Program Staff.
The Executive Director/CPO is the primary spokesperson for the Boys & Girls Club. Others may be given the opportunity when the Executive Director/CPO appropriately selects them. They, too, are notified well in advance.
RESPONSE TO EMERGENCY
There may be cases when, due to police reports, accidents, or ‘issue-related news stories, the media may show up unannounced. The following procedures apply in these situations.
- Attempt to keep the media outside the door of the Boys & Girls Club. Do not use force to prevent a reporter from entering the building. Remain as polite and composed as possible. If the Boys & Girls Club is closed, do not open the doors under any circumstances.
- Report the media's presence to the Executive Director/CPO or the Boys & Girls Club supervisor in charge.
- The Boys & Girls Club supervisor in charge will determine the purpose of the visit before granting access into the building or allowing interviews of Boys & Girls Club personnel.
- If reporters want comments from youth on various issues, they are welcome to interview Boys & Girls Club members outside of the building.
- Do not, under any circumstances, provide reporters with unauthorized staff or member information. This information is confidential. The Executive Director/CPO is the only one authorized to release this information. Reporters may attempt to obtain information “off the record”. There is no such thing. Everything you say to a reporter is fair game for news stories.
Direct reports to the Executive Director/CPO, Director of Development, or the Director of Operations (in that order). One of these supervisors will handle the media. In cases where none of these people are available, contact the current Boys & Girls Club Board President.
- When the situation calls for an immediate response, (accidents, police reports, or other emergencies) never say anything that implies negligence of blame on behalf of the Boys & Girls Club In the absence of an official spokesperson, the standard company response is, "Our ultimate concern is for the well being of our members. We are investigating the incident. Until we reach the Executive Director/CPO, the Boys & Girls Club has no further comment”.
- The supervisor in charge should stay with reporters at all times and note that they have been interviewed. The supervisor should be prepared to recall which areas of the club the news crew filmed. Boys & Girls Club Staff should take photos of the reporter and cameraperson in action. This will remind the news crew of their responsibility to be fair and objective.
- The supervisor in charge should ask the reporter when the story would run (which channel? what time? which newspaper? etc.).
- The supervisor in charge or designee must inform the parents of Boys & Girls Club members involved in the story immediately.
