Lucy,
I think having people available with their contact details is a good idea. I have done a
couple of little bits related to Wikipedia (BBC Magazine, world service & local
commercial radio) & a few bits related to work (unrelated to wp), but could not be in
London at short notice (& journalists always want someone at short notice &
wherever they happen to be).
Rod
From: Wikimediauk-l [mailto:wikimediauk-l-bounces@lists.wikimedia.org] On Behalf Of Lucy
Crompton-Reid
Sent: 16 February 2017 17:09
To: UK Wikimedia mailing list; John Lubbock
Subject: [Wikimediauk-l] Media spokespeople
Dear all
As promised I wanted to follow up about the Daily Mail story last week and the need for
the Chapter to be able to call on volunteers who would feel comfortable talking to the
media on behalf of the community. Thanks to David Gerard for initiating this discussion on
the list.
In the past the charity has offered media training for volunteers, and whilst we
haven't budgeted for this in the current year it's certainly something to think
about again in future. I attended CIPR's Media Handling and Crisis Communications
course earlier this week (with a free place courtesy of Alastair McCapra) which I found
extremely useful. As it happens, I contacted six or seven people about the Newsnight
request last Thursday, but for various reasons we weren't able to provide a volunteer
to talk to the BBC...In several cases this was because the editor concerned didn't
agree with the decision, and so could potentially defend the process but not the outcome.
There will doubtless always be circumstances in which a volunteer doesn't want to
speak to the media about a particular story, or is unable to do so because of work,
travel, location etc; hence the need for a 'stable' of people who can do this
(sorry, I can't think of a more appropriate collective noun!)
Either John or I will be in touch with those of you who have a) responded to David's
message about media spokespeople in the past few days or b) are already on our radar as
potential spokespeople, to create an up-to-date list of names and contact details. Please
feel free to add your name to this list by replying to this message or dropping me and/or
John Lubbock an email.
With thanks and best
Lucy
--
Lucy Crompton-Reid
Chief Executive
Wikimedia UK
+44 (0) 207 065 0991
Wikimedia UK is a Company Limited by Guarantee registered in England and Wales, Registered
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Wikimedia UK is the UK chapter of a global Wikimedia movement. The Wikimedia projects are
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