2008 Woodie Awards
Media plan directs reporters away from sources
DVC public information official says district 'not in business of withholding information'
Jeremy Frederickson
Issue date: 5/2/08 Section: News
"If you're doing a routine story, it would be cumbersome to have to go through a PIO," Benjamin said during a phone interview. "It's more in my mind for emergency events."
But Leong said he had cleared up the misunderstanding with Benjamin this week and she had no objection to his plan covering non-crisis situations.
DVC made headlines nationwide after Contra Costa Times reporter Matt Krupnick broke the story in January 2007 that DVC students were suspected of selling grades out of the admissions office over a seven-year period.
District and college officials were criticized in several Contra Costa Times editorials for keeping the scandal secret after discovering it 18 months earlier.
But Leong, Benjamin, Knox, and DVC President Judy Walters denied any connection between the proposal and the criticism DVC and the district received for what was considered a lackluster PR response to the cash-for-grades scandal.
"The intent [of the plan] is to have a process that is clear and simple for information to flow," Walters said. "And that those people who need to be in the communications loop are in the communications loop."
Leong said his plan "doesn't need to be a governing board issue," because it is not an official district policy or procedure.
Knox, DVC's public information officer, said the plan was never an order and that no one was told they had to comply. The district has no plans to punish anyone who fails to comply the plan, she added.
"It is unfortunate [the plan] has been communicated as a policy or directive," Knox said. "[We are] not in the business of trying to withhold information."
But she said college officials contacted by the media should contact her before or after doing an interview to "help the college convey messages to the community."
But Leong said he had cleared up the misunderstanding with Benjamin this week and she had no objection to his plan covering non-crisis situations.
DVC made headlines nationwide after Contra Costa Times reporter Matt Krupnick broke the story in January 2007 that DVC students were suspected of selling grades out of the admissions office over a seven-year period.
District and college officials were criticized in several Contra Costa Times editorials for keeping the scandal secret after discovering it 18 months earlier.
But Leong, Benjamin, Knox, and DVC President Judy Walters denied any connection between the proposal and the criticism DVC and the district received for what was considered a lackluster PR response to the cash-for-grades scandal.
"The intent [of the plan] is to have a process that is clear and simple for information to flow," Walters said. "And that those people who need to be in the communications loop are in the communications loop."
Leong said his plan "doesn't need to be a governing board issue," because it is not an official district policy or procedure.
Knox, DVC's public information officer, said the plan was never an order and that no one was told they had to comply. The district has no plans to punish anyone who fails to comply the plan, she added.
"It is unfortunate [the plan] has been communicated as a policy or directive," Knox said. "[We are] not in the business of trying to withhold information."
But she said college officials contacted by the media should contact her before or after doing an interview to "help the college convey messages to the community."
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