In the fall of 1995, the News Council facilitated a private forum between educators,TV news directors and an editor at the Star Tribune. This forum was held in response to numerous complaints from school districts about reporter behavior with students and on school property. The goal of the forum was to build cooperation and alert the media to problem areas.

At the conclusion of the forum each party received a recap of the discussion (presented here) and a list of names, addresses and phone numbers.

THE EDUCATORS

Educators understand the value of the news media but many don't know how to work with the media. Many districts do not have communications officers. Media outlets may need to educate educators so that they can better meet the needs of reporters.

The job of educators and principals is to educate students and to ensure their safety, not to answer questions from reporters. They feel put out and hostile when reporters insist upon getting information immediately. They want advance notice so they can give you the information you request.

Educators do not always understand the Data Practices Act. When they deny a request for information, they may be doing so because they have applied the Act too broadly. They may need to be educated.

Educators complained that while the school (may) have a point person for media contact, the news outlets don't have an easily identifiable person (particularly TV outlets) with whom they can develop a relationship. They feel they are starting over from scratch with every story. They stressed the need to develop relationships.

Reporters should always put student's safety -- and privacy needs -- first. This means not blocking doors or buses with personnel or equipment, checking in with the office when on school property, and gaining parental and school permission before conducting interviews. "Swarming" of media was identified as a significant problem.

Educators feel the media treat them with a lack of respect and courtesy. They have found several reporters to be abrasive, aggressive, suspicious and unwilling to meet requests from school officials (by not checking in with office, by blocking exits, etc.). They want media to understand that such behavior on the part of a few endangers the relationship with all reporters. They want media executives to be responsible for the behavior of their reporters.

Educators believe it is inappropriate and creates a negative bias toward schools when a student is identified as, for example, "Bob X, a student from Generic High School," when he or she is being charged with a crime unrelated to the fact that the student attends that school.

Educators agreed that there needs to be more discussion with media about how and when to talk with underage students.

THE MEDIA

The media feel it is their prerogative to be anywhere on public property.

It is important that the school have a clearly identified contact person to manage media activities. The media respect firmly established boundaries and those boundaries need to be communicated to them.

Schools need to have an emergency communications plan prior to an emergency.

School officials should never say "No comment." It will appear to a reporter and the audience that you are hiding something. It would be better to say, "I don't have anything to tell you right now, but I will talk with you as soon as I can," or "We have a problem and we are dealing with it."

Do not assume that every request for information will violate the Data Practices Act. The Act is quite specific about what kinds of information are private. Inform yourself about it. Check with Communications Officers. Don't always trust that your attorney will know.

If you have a problem with a reporters' behavior, speak directly to his or her supervisor: the assignment editor or news director.