SLA MEDIA RELATIONS PRACTICES

It is the practice of the Special Libraries Association to provide accurate and consistent information to the media.

The purpose is to assure that information about the Special Libraries Association and its policies, practices, and programs are communicated properly and reported accurately to the public by press and media outlets.

RESPONDING TO MEDIA INQUIRIES FOR INFORMATION

• The Communications Director is the Association's primary media contact. If you receive an inquiry from someone in the print or broadcast media (such as reporters, editors, researchers, and librarians) for you to do an interview, provide statistics, or write an article on behalf of the Association, get the reporter's name, name of the media outlet, phone number, deadline, e-mail and an idea of his/her area of interest. Then, before responding, refer the inquiry to the SLA Communications Director.

This process enables the Director to determine who in the Association can best respond to the inquiry, to make certain that consistent information is being disseminated, and to stay abreast of areas of media interest and prepare for future inquiries.

The Director may refer the inquiry back to you if it is determined that you are the best person to respond on behalf of the Association (or one of its units).

However, when an inquiry regards an issue on which the Association has no previously recorded statement or policy, only the SLA President or Executive Director have been authorized by the Board of Directors to respond.

• If the SLA Communications Director is unavailable, contact the Executive Director.

• If the reporter insists that he/she has an immediate deadline, you are to contact the SLA Communications Director immediately.

A media inquiry should not be ignored. It is in SLA's best interests to be a reliable and supportive source to media outlets.

RESPONDING TO INACCURATE OR INCOMPLETE MEDIA COVERAGE

• All responses to media coverage on behalf of the Association should be coordinated and approved by the SLA Communications Director.
• Association officers may respond individually, with notice provided to the SLA Communications Director. However, association officers should also make it clear that their response is on their own behalf or on behalf of their employer -- not on behalf of the Association. Officers should make certain to respond without use of Association titles in any correspondence with reporters or editors.

RESPONDING TO OTHER TYPES OF MEDIA INQUIRIES

• Requests regarding press credentials at SLA meetings should be referred to the SLA Communications Director.
• Requests for SLA Media Kits, which provide information about advertising in SLA publications, should be referred to the SLA Marketing Department.
• Requests from the media for review copies of SLA publications should be referred to the Publications Director.

INITIATING COMMUNICATION WITH THE MEDIA

• Only accurate, timely, and newsworthy information should be communicated to the media, and in concert with SLA Headquarters.
• Statements on behalf of the Association should be consistent with official policy and coordinated and approved by the SLA Communications Director.
• Statements regarding an issue on which the Association has had no previously recorded policy may be made only by the SLA President or Executive Director.

The SLA Communications Director is responsible for all aspects of SLA's media relations, under the direction of the Executive Director and with the assistance of the SLA officers and staff.

Approved: January 26, 1995