Communications & Media Relations Policies

All members of the news media interested in capturing images or conducting interviews on College property should visit the Office of Communications to receive appropriate credentials upon arriving on campus. While the College's principal academic campus and other F&M-owned properties are not public facilities, the College seeks to respond to community needs and the needs of the general public by sharing its resources and facilities when appropriate and possible.

The College is committed to working with news media while remaining sensitive to the central educational purpose for which the College was established. We also remain attentive to the safety of all members of the College community.

Please note the following policy guidance to ensure ease of engagement with members of the F&M campus community:

General Conduct on Campus

Members of the news media must obtain written permission to capture photographic imagery, video or audio of individual members of the Franklin & Marshall community. News organizations are asked to respect the right of Franklin & Marshall College students, faculty and professional staff to decline to be interviewed or photographed in a way that they would be identifiable.

The exception is events advertised as open to the public for which there is no expectation of privacy for those in attendance.

News media are not permitted to enter classrooms without first making a request through the Office of Communications and securing advance permission from the instructor. News media are not permitted to enter occupied residential living areas at any time. Residences are our students' "homes" while they are on campus, and while a student may wish to grant individual permission to a reporter to enter his or her room, that student is not able to grant permission on behalf of all the students living in that residential facility.

Attending Events

Franklin & Marshall College meetings, activities and events on campus are considered to be private unless specifically designated as "open to the public." Print journalists may attend events designated as open to the public, though registration may be required for some events when seating is expected to be at a premium. Broadcast media may need to secure separate permissions. The College will make every effort to be responsive to media requests to attend public events, but may be bound by certain limitations imposed by invited guests with an interest in protecting intellectual property, or by attendees who may have privacy concerns.

It is appropriate for the F&M office organizing and hosting each event, and not the invited speaker or guest, to manage any media relations or outreach to news media regarding events held on campus. This allows the College to respond appropriately to any questions about the venue, and to represent accurately the details and purpose of the event. Members of the news media should consult directly with the College through the Office of Communications regarding information about guest speakers and events held on campus.

Please check the College's website (www.fandm.edu) to determine whether an event is "open to the public."

For events requiring enhanced security measures, reporters who have not registered in advance likely will not be permitted entry at the time of the event. Also, for events with designated press seating, reporters and photographers will likely be asked to remain seated unless granted permission by F&M staff managing the event, or by advance arrangement with the event organizers in consultation with F&M Communications.

While on campus, any individual attending an event designated as "open to the public" must adhere to all College rules of conduct, all rules and conditions proscribed for that event, and state and federal law. Members of the general public who are authorized to attend events that are designated as "open to the public" are authorized to attend that event. No authorization is given to enter any building other than the building where the event is scheduled to occur, and members of the public should never interfere with or disrupt any member of the College community while on campus.

In instances in which the College makes any of its facilities available for use by any other group or organization, the group or organization may impose additional limits and restrictions upon attendess of the events being sponsored. The College shall have no liability or responsibility for actions of external event sponsors.

Reproducing F&M News

Franklin & Marshall College encourages news organizations and not-for-profit entities to reproduce and disseminate news content appearing on F&M News. This includes news media organizations, schools and educational institutions, foundations, grant-making agencies, and governmental organizations.

These entities may link to or copy full versions of Franklin & Marshall College news stories by including the following credit information.

• When the writer's byline is embedded in the story or copied as part of the reproduced content, the following credit should appear with the story: [Name of Writer], courtesy of Franklin & Marshall College

• When a writer's byline is removed from the story, the following credit should appear with the reproduced content: News provided courtesy of Franklin & Marshall College

Use of the Franklin & Marshall College Name in Promotional Materials by External Entities

Franklin & Marshall College requires review of the uses of its name in any news releases or other promotional materials when the name of the College is used other than for news, research or documentary purposes. For-profit entities not affiliated with the College -- such as technology firms, vendors, architects, contractors, marketing professionals, and other service providers -- must consult with the College regarding guidelines for use of the Franklin & Marshall name when including references to the institution or its likeness in information intended for electronic or printed publication or dissemination for promotional purposes.

In addition to news releases, this includes use of the College's name in websites, brochures, portfolios, case studies, advertorials, etc. Please refer to the College's full guidelines for name-use.

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Policy Maintained by: Office of Communications, Vice President for Communications