4.1.10 Media relations

Principles
For many Tasmanians, media outlets such as newspapers, radio and television are their primary source of news and information about government activities, issues and events.

Media coverage of government activities and issues therefore needs to be accurate, timely and in context.

Policy requirements
While agencies are expected to take a proactive approach to working with the media in order to promote public awareness and understanding of government policies, programs, services and initiatives, they must at all times abide by the Media protocols: whole-of-Government issued by the Government Communications Office (GCO). These protocols aim to achieve sensible co-ordination of media activities and issues within a whole-of-government approach.

To ensure effective media communications, agencies must:

• have a designated unit or officer responsible for managing media activities and for liaising with the Government Communications Office and their Minister’s Office
• have in place internal processes and procedures for responding to media enquiries and requests that may come directly to their media unit or through the Government Communications Office
• identify managers or staff with the knowledge and/or technical expertise to provide input to media responses or to speak as official representatives of their agency
• provide media training for those managers or staff designated to speak as official agency representatives.

See Policy: Spokespersons