2008 Woodie Awards
MSSU policy on media relations sparks concern
Jeremy Johnson
Issue date: 7/24/08 Section: Campus Life
A policy enacted about a month ago requires faculty and staff at Missouri Southern State University to refer media representatives to MSSU's University Relations and Marketing department.
The policy has struck many, particularly those in media professions, as controlling on the part of the university and as an infringement on the First Amendment. But Bruce Speck, MSSU president, sees it as a way for university officials to be made aware of news about the university.
"We want to know about positive stories so we can look for them," Speck said. "We need to be aware of other news being generated through the university as well so we can provide appropriate responses or additional information if necessary."
A primary function of the policy, in Speck's view, is to keep "uniformity in the information" that comes out about the university.
"There's a line there that's blurred," said Speck. "When members of the faculty speak, are they speaking as individuals or as professors who work for MSSU? We don't want the opinion of a professor to be mistaken for the official stance of the university."
Speck says that the policy did not stem from a reaction to a specific incident that involved MSSU, although he had experienced such situations at the institution he worked at previously.
"I was in my office, and my secretary said that the media were here, and all of a sudden a bunch of people came into my office with cameras, asking about something someone had said," Speck said. "It was unexpected, but it ended up being handled well."
Stephen Smith, manager of the MSSU News Bureau, says that the policy is not anything new, but reasserts what was already in place.
"It's been the informal policy for a number of years that departments contact the University Relations and Marketing office for assistance in preparing information for the news media," Smith said. "This is simply more codified, and gives faculty better direction, rather than leaving them to think, 'What am I supposed to do?'"
The policy has struck many, particularly those in media professions, as controlling on the part of the university and as an infringement on the First Amendment. But Bruce Speck, MSSU president, sees it as a way for university officials to be made aware of news about the university.
"We want to know about positive stories so we can look for them," Speck said. "We need to be aware of other news being generated through the university as well so we can provide appropriate responses or additional information if necessary."
A primary function of the policy, in Speck's view, is to keep "uniformity in the information" that comes out about the university.
"There's a line there that's blurred," said Speck. "When members of the faculty speak, are they speaking as individuals or as professors who work for MSSU? We don't want the opinion of a professor to be mistaken for the official stance of the university."
Speck says that the policy did not stem from a reaction to a specific incident that involved MSSU, although he had experienced such situations at the institution he worked at previously.
"I was in my office, and my secretary said that the media were here, and all of a sudden a bunch of people came into my office with cameras, asking about something someone had said," Speck said. "It was unexpected, but it ended up being handled well."
Stephen Smith, manager of the MSSU News Bureau, says that the policy is not anything new, but reasserts what was already in place.
"It's been the informal policy for a number of years that departments contact the University Relations and Marketing office for assistance in preparing information for the news media," Smith said. "This is simply more codified, and gives faculty better direction, rather than leaving them to think, 'What am I supposed to do?'"
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