News Media
ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ strives to maintain a positive, cooperative relationship with news media representatives. The news media are important community partners, providing accurate, relevant, and timely information regarding decisions, activities and concerns. Media coverage informs our communities and increases public awareness of education.
Spokespersons
Board Chair Jeff Friesen and Superintendent-CEO Joe Thiessen serve as official spokespersons for ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ in their respective roles. The Board Chair speaks on behalf of the Board of Trustees on governance and Board-related matters, while the Superintendent-CEO addresses divisional operations, general inquiries and critical incidents. The Superintendent-CEO may refer specific matters to administrators or professional staff for comment.
Protocol
Request for Information and Interviews
All media inquiries, except those related to athletics coverage, must first be directed to the HSD Communications Office, which serves as the official liaison and primary contact for news media. This includes requests to interview employees or students and requests for information about divisional or school policies, procedures and events. To protect student and employee privacy, media representatives must obtain prior approval before entering school grounds.
Our expectation is that media will not discuss/negotiate potential interviews with our employees or gain their consent for interviews, prior to receiving authorization to do so. All such requests should be directed to ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ. This is necessary to ensure protection of employee privacy, and to allow for review of the request by supervisory personnel and/or school administration (principal).
School-Initiated Request for Coverage
Principals may choose to invite media to school events, or request coverage of school stories of interest. In such instances, media are not required to request additional permission of access from the ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ.
Before any student is photographed, videotaped or interviewed by the media, appropriate student permissions (parent/caregiver consents) must be checked with the principal or school-designate. All divisional policies concerning student privacy must be followed.
Public Events
It is expected that when media attends a public event on school property, they will identify themselves as such to the principal or school-designate upon arrival.
When members of the public are invited/permitted to attend an event, those in attendance (including media) may choose to take student photographs, videos, and/or publish identifying information without requesting consent.
Principals have full authority to approve or decline media access to school property.
Athletics Information
Requests for scores, schedules, team information, and interviews, may be made directly to the school principal or school-designate.
Media Contact:
Tel. 204-326-6471
communications@hsd.ca