Media Guidelines for Employees According to the University’s Emergency Communications Plan, employees are to direct all media and public inquiries without comment to the Public Information Officer.
Ground Rules for Media During an Emergency It is the university’s policy to be forthright and timely in its communication.
We will serve as an advocate for meeting media needs and informing the public, while assuring that the rights of employees, students, and the institution are protected. The procedures stated below are designed to meet our mutual needs.
Information will be released according to the University’s Critical Incident Preparedness Plan and its Emergency Communications Unit Plan.
The university will release information only after it is confident of its accuracy. The University’s official spokesperson is the Vice President of Communications.
In an emergency situation, Public Safety and the Emergency Communications Unit, along with local law enforcement authorities have the authority to limit access to the affected area and other specific areas on campus designated for use during the emergency.
If a family gathering center has been established, media may not enter. However, anyone in the family gathering center is free to leave to talk to the media.
Members of the media may be required to present media identification and to wear media badges provided by the Emergency Communications Unit.
A media center will be established at the Atrium Room at 122 S. Michigan Avenue.
The emergency telephone number is: (312) 261-3832.
Upon notification of an emergency situation, it is imperative that a timely notification is made to the University Community by the University phone intercom system, the University emergency texting system and the University emergency phone call messaging system so that all affected become aware of the situation and are told of the appropriate response to make – whether it be Evacuation, Shelter in Place or Lockdown which are discussed in more detail in the Hazard Annexes below which discuss the appropriate response to various situations. Timely warnings of emergency conditions are essential to preserve the safety and security of the University Community. This plan outlines the different warning systems available and suggested use of each system, as well as provides operational guidance for issuing emergency warnings. There is no one system that will enable the university to fully warn everyone in a timely manner because each system has limitations. Thus, it is imperative to utilize multiple systems to effectively broadcast warning messages to the most people. All warning messages must be accurate, clear and consistent. All messages should include accurate and detailed information about the situation and what actions to take, as well as systematically repeated. The media also aids in the warning dissemination. Therefore, to maintain the accuracy of the warning messages, the media should receive consistent information with the warning messages themselves.
The ultimate decision as to when a notification is to be made rests with the President. However, in times of emergency or crisis when time is of the essence, the responsibility for that decision is
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