media policy

nteu is an amalgamation of

national tertiary education staff union and

national union of tertiary employees of south africa

[registration number LR2 / 6 / 2 / 610]

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The NATIONAL TERTIARY EDUCATION UNION is in the process of registration

DETAILED NUTESA POLICY ON COMMUNICATING WITH THE MEDIA

1. PREAMBLE

The Constitution of the Union contains inter alia the following aims and objectives:

to promote, defend and represent the interest of all its members at both national and local level;
to act for and on behalf of its members;
to promote communication, interaction and unanimity between branches of the union in order to ensure the proper implementation of the objectives and policies of the union;
to issue media statements on behalf of its members;

It is the purpose of this document to provide the necessary detail to ensure that all communication with the media takes place in a responsible and accountable manner both at branch and national level.

2. COMMUNICATION ON BRANCH MATTERS

This refers to matters communicated to local media.

2.1 Written media releases:

Written media releases will be compiled by the branch executive committee and submitted to NEC at least 48 hours before release.

Written media releases will be signed by the branch chairperson.

A legal opinion will be obtained by the branch regarding the possibility of legal action as a result of the media release before it is released.

No media release will bring the union into disrepute.

2.2 Verbal communication with local media:

Only the branch chairperson may speak to the media on behalf of the branch.

Such branch chairperson will take every caution to ensure that utterances are not slanderous or can in any other way result in legal action against the union.

The national office will be informed of the verbal communication before it takes place. Sufficient detail will be provided on the nature of the communication.

If exceptional cases circumstances do not allow the above, the national office will be informed of the verbal communication, including the nature of the content thereof, as soon as possible after it has taken place.

No communication will bring the union into disrepute.

3. COMMUNICATION ON NATIONAL MATTERS

This refers to matters communicated to national media.

3.1 Written media releases:

Written media releases will be compiled by NEC or the CoC.

In the case of written media releases compiled by NEC, these will as far as possible be circulated either electronically via e-mail or by fax to the CoC for approval before release.

Lack of response by any branch on the above will be considered to be approval by such branch.

Written media releases will be signed by the president, deputy-president, secretary or administrator.

A legal opinion will be obtained regarding the possibility of legal action as a result of the media release before it is released.

No media release will bring the union into disrepute.

3.2 Verbal communication with national media:

Only the representatives duly authorised by the CoC may speak to the media on behalf of the union on the matter they have been authorised to do so.

Such representatives will take every caution to ensure that utterances are not slanderous or can in any other way result in legal action against the union.

No communication will bring the union into disrepute.

4. SANCTION

Transgressions of the above will be dealt with in accordance with the union’s disciplinary code.