Media Relations Policy

Vancouver Community College (VCC; the College) recognizes the importance of establishing positive relationships with representatives of the Media both to provide timely responses to queries and to inform the media about newsworthy matters at the College.

This policy and its associated procedures outline the framework for VCC's media relations activities. The policy provides direction to the VCC Board of Governors and all employees for responding to the Media and ensures the College will identify appropriate spokespeople. It identifies a protocol for ensuring that newsworthy College matters are disseminated responsibly, in an accurate, useful and timely form for Media use. The policy also outlines the conditions under which access to College property for the purposes of video or audio recording will be granted.

This policy and related procedures apply to all College employees and members of the Board of Governors.

This policy does not infringe on the Academic Freedom rights granted to Faculty as outlined within the Collective Agreement between the VCC Faculty Association and Vancouver Community College.

This policy does not infringe on the ability of VCC's unions/associations to advocate for their members publicly.

This policy and associated procedures govern the College's relations with representatives of the Media. This excludes:

• Internal VCC communications.


• Social media posts by students, employees or alumni. (Please refer to the VCC Social Media Practices on MyVCC for our official guidance on posting on social media.)


• Government or regulatory bodies issuing official reports.


• Actions or activism undertaken as part of the academic freedom granted to the VCC community.


• Access to information requests made by the Media or journalists.

1. The College is committed to open and timely communications with representatives of the Media within the confines of the legitimate requirements of student and employee confidentiality and safety, and whilst respecting intellectual property rights. 


2. The College recognizes the important role that the Media plays in accurately disseminating news about the College and members of the College community. The College will provide, through a designated spokesperson, full and reasonable answers to questions from the Media and will ensure that newsworthy matters are disseminated in a timely and appropriate manner.


3. In support of the College's core values of reconciliation, equity, diversity, and inclusion, the College is committed to ensuring the content we share is reflective of the multiplicity of perspectives and lived experiences of our community, and the intellectual property rights of the Indigenous communities engaged in this work.


4. The College respects the academic freedom rights contained within the collective agreements of any of our constituent communities and recognizes that those rights are themselves limited by the constitution and relevant federal and provincial statutes.


5. Employees and Board members engaging with media are expected to distinguish between personal views and positions held in their professional capacity.

Academic Freedom

(as contained within the April 1, 2022 – March 31, 2025 Collective Agreement between Vancouver Community College and Vancouver Community College Faculty Association)

The freedom to examine, question, teach and learn and the right to investigate, speculate, and comment without regard to prescribed doctrine. Every faculty member of the College is entitled to exercise academic freedom in the performance of their duties. This ensures freedom in the conduct of teaching; freedom in undertaking research and making public the results thereof; and freedom from institutional censorship. Academic freedom carries with it the duty to use that freedom in a responsible way, respecting the rights and dignity of others, and in a manner consistent with the scholarly obligation to base teaching and research in an honest search for knowledge and the obligation to follow the curriculum requirements of the instructional assignment.

Media

Any external organization, individual, or entity engaged in the creation and dissemination of public-facing content. This includes, but is not limited to:

- News media (print, broadcast, and digital): e.g., news outlets, TV stations, or radio.
- Commercial or corporate media: e.g., marketing agencies or sponsored content creators.
-Freelance journalists, reporters, and documentary producers (including student journalists from other institutions).
- Digital content creators: e.g., influencers, bloggers, podcasters, and YouTubers.
- Third-party organizations producing promotional, investigative, or informational content about VCC.

Media, Video and Audio Releases

Media, video and audio releases are short news stories or announcements which the College will write, audio record and/or video record for distribution to the Media to publicize an event or activity, to announce something that the College believes has news value and/or to reinforce a central theme or message to manage the College's reputation.

Meetings with the Media

Meetings with the Media can be arranged via the Marketing & Communications team; the purpose of such meetings is to develop a mutual understanding with specific Media outlets, to update Media on VCC news/activities, and to determine the most effective approach in dealing with particular issues.

Members of the College Community

Members of the College community include: all VCC employees (part-time, full-time, term and temporary), contractors, volunteers, Board of Governors members and students.

News Conferences

News conferences are called by the College when it wishes to announce items of major significance and/or complexity (e.g. opening a facility, major change in funding, or crisis situation); a news conference is considered a formal invitation to the news Media; the Media will expect to hear a major announcement, to have an opportunity to ask questions, record answers, take pictures and to receive a press kit containing information about the announcement.

Public Service Announcements

Public service announcements are generally very short in length and deal with routine activities that relate to the community served by the College; in many cases, they promote College activities that are open and free of charge.

Thought Leadership

Thought leadership interviews or written content placed within the Media will share the perspective of the College or an employee within the College, to showcase the College's values, activities, and the employee's talent and expertise.

• Emergency Management (220)
• Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (501)
• Standards of Employee Conduct & Conflict of Interest (202)

• VCC Social Media Best Practices, Communications and Marketing Department


• VCC Emergency Management Plan