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Media Advisory: Duke Revises Guidelines for Media

Duke University has revised its guidelines for media access to campus. The revised guidelines can be found at http://www.dukenews.duke.edu/duke_community/policy.html#mediaaccess.

The policies regarding media access that had served Duke well in the past did not anticipate the level of disruption to the campus that accompanied the lacrosse incident last spring. The principle of openness still governs our overall approach. The revised policy strikes a balance between our general commitment to openness and the need to ensure that members of the university community can enjoy an appropriate level of privacy and normality while remaining free to speak openly with the media if they choose to do so. Among the rules contained in the guidelines:

-- Television crews must seek permission from the Office of News & Communications (ONC), or the Medical Center News Office (MCNO) in the case of medical center property, to set up to videotape or broadcast live from campus, and they must park in designated areas. Such permission generally will be granted for exterior work as long as it does not interfere with university operations;

-- In certain situations, Duke may limit television broadcasting to specific locations;

-- In general, representatives of the news media not using TV cameras do not need permission to enter the campus or to take exterior still photographs for news purposes. However, access may be denied or limited, and pool cameras or reporting may be required, during an emergency or in situations when ONC determines that unrestricted media access may become inappropriately disruptive;

-- News media representatives must seek permission from the appropriate office (ONC, MCNO or a school's public affairs office) if they want to enter classrooms, medical facilities, laboratories or similar facilities for the purpose of reportage. Such permission generally will be granted as long as the reporting activities do not disrupt university activities; interfere with the privacy of students, patients, faculty or staff; or jeopardize the safety of university personnel, visitors or facilities;

-- Residence halls are closed to news media except in rare cases with special advance arrangement;

-- ONC may provide The Chronicle with special access to information or events, in recognition of its unique role as the student-run campus newspaper.

If you or your staff ever find that these restrictions keep you from doing your jobs, please bring it to our attention immediately.