The Vice President for Marketing and Communication serves as the official University spokesperson and conveys the official university position on issues of general university-wide impact or significance, or situations that are of a particularly controversial or sensitive nature. Inquiries from the media about such issues should be referred to the senior director for Marketing and Communication via phone or online submission of the News Media Contact Form.
Depending on the specific circumstances, the president or the vice president for Marketing and Communication may designate another university administrator to serve as spokesperson on a particular issue.
The Office of Marketing and Communication coordinates marketing and communications at Alcorn, working with stakeholders across the university. The Office ensures that all Alcorn communications serve the university’s mission and goals.
Marketing and Communication helps build Alcorn’s positive image by highlighting university achievements, communicating important messages and connecting journalists to Alcorn experts. The Office of Marketing and Communication is the point of contact for print, broadcast and online media outlets reporting on the university.
News Media Relations Policy Statement
This policy was established to describe Alcorn’s position with respect to interacting with news media representatives. For the purpose of this policy, news media shall refer to representatives of newspapers, magazines, newsletters, online publications, television, and radio.
University Practice: The Division of Marketing and Communication trains all employees approved to interact with media and develops guidelines to assist designees.
Scope of Policy: An employee or department that seeks to publicize a program, event, or achievement should contact the Division of Marketing and Communication. The Marketing and Communication office has access to numerous news media contacts and will work with employees to coordinate publicity or visibility for programs, events, or newsworthy issues covered by this policy.
It is the responsibility of the Division of Marketing and Communication to initiate and/or respond to news media requests and to manage those interactions. When an employee or department is contacted by the news media, he/she is to notify the Marketing and Communication office immediately.
While on university property, news media representatives should, if necessary and appropriate, be accompanied by a Marketing and Communication staff member or a university employee designated by the Division of Marketing and Communication.
To gain access to the residence halls, news media representatives must be accompanied by a Marketing and Communication staff member or a university employee designated by the Division of Marketing and Communication.
Alcorn State University complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding the retention and release of personal and/or educational records of all current employees and students.
If an event attracts news media interest, all press releases and statements to the news media will be routed through and disseminated by the Division of Marketing and Communication. It is the responsibility of each department head to implement procedures to comply with this policy.
Alcorn obtains authorization from those whose photographs are taken with the intent to publicize the university. Their consent allows the university to incorporate these photographs in situations appropriate to the image of an academic institution including release to the news media, to publish likenesses in Alcorn’s publications, on its Website, in videos, on CDs, or in other recruitment or promotional materials including paid advertising.