Media Policy for the Kingdom of Lochac as at 26th April AS XLI (2007)

PLEASE NOTE: The Media Relations Office will be the province of the Seneschal of Lochac, (or designated Deputy) until further notice.
Purpose

To ensure that all information provided to organised news media is presented professionally and conveys a true, and unbiased sense of the purpose and intent of the SCA in accordance with the Society Media Relations policy.


Related Documents

This document is to be read in partnership with the SCA Ltd Media Relations and External Publicity Document that can be found at http://www.sca.org/docs/pdf/mediapolicy.pdf.

In the Kingdom of Lochac where there are differences between this document and Media Relations and External Publicity Document this document is to take precedence.


Definitions

Organised News Media – as stated under the Society Media Relations policy

Media Relations – as stated under the Society Media Relations policy

Reportable Media event – as stated under the Society Media Relations policy


Responsibilities of the Kingdom Officer for Media Relations

  • Maintain a working knowledge of Media Relations documents and notify local officers of changes.
  • To act as liaison to organised news media on behalf of the Kingdom of Lochac at or regarding Kingdom sponsored events and activities of national importance.
  • To disseminate Society prepared press materials for Kingdom use; to author and disseminate Kingdom-specific materials; and to author and disseminate or approve event-specific materials, as needed.

Quarterly reports are due on April 15 (for the period January 1 – March 31; July 15 (April 1 – June 30); October 15 (July 1 – September 30) and January 15 (October 1 – December 31) the Society’s Assistant Vice President for Media Relations and the SCAA committee. Reports must include all reportable media events as defined in media relations policy, including, but not limited to, contact from a Media representative for the purpose of doing a news story, column, or media presentation; an SCA Branch or representative wishing to publicise an event or activity in modern media venues; an unfortunate occurrence. Reports must include: date of activity, location, modern and society names (if applicable) of all contacts, and description of activity.

Copies of stories, articles, newscasts, and / or televised features must be forwarded to the Lochac Officer for Media Relations for retention in the Lochac Central Archive (held by the Media office) at an address as yet to be determined.

Unfortunate occurrences that might result in media coverage, including but not limited to, severe injury or fatality; incident resulting in official law enforcement being summonsed to an SCA activity; and negative news resulting in the organisation being display in an unfortunate light – e.g. destruction of property, prominent member retained on criminal charges, etc., must be reported within seven days to the Kingdom Seneschal. Report must include, but not be limited to, SCA and modern name of member, specifics on occurrence, degree of police and / or media involvement.


Responsibilities of Group Seneschals

The local Group seneschal is responsible for all Organised News Media contact at the branch level. Duties may be delegated to members who meet Society Media Relations criteria.

The Local Seneschal must:

  • Follow Society and Kingdom Media Relations policies, practices and procedures.
  • Utilise approved Society or Kingdom press materials in conjunction with photos and flyers produced for the local group.
  • Copies of stories, articles, newscasts, and / or televised features must be forwarded to the Officer for Media Relations for retention in the Central Archive (held by the Kingdom Media Officer).
  • Contact the Kingdom Officer for Media Relations for creation or approval of event specific materials. This will only be necessary when the article / newscast etc is of national import. Local events do not need Kingdom approval, as long as they fall within the designated criteria.
  • Report to the Officer for Media Relations within seven days of a Reportable Media Event as described in, but no limited to, Society Media Relations policy. Report must include date of activity; location; modern and society names (if applicable) of all contacts; Barony, Canton, and Shire affiliation (if applicable); and description of activity.

Unfortunate occurrences that might result in media coverage, including but no limited to, severe injury or fatality; incident resulting in official law enforcement being summoned to an SCA activity; and negative news resulting in the organisation being displayed in an unfortunate light – e.g. destruction of property, prominent member retained on criminal charges, etc; must be reported within seven days to the Officer for Media Relations. Report must include, but not be limited to, SCA and modern name of member, specifics on occurrence, and degree of police and / or media involvement.