Chapter officers or other brothers may be contacted by reporters/media at any point during the school year – whether in response to a local incident, a positive story the chapter is promoting, or other reasons.
Regardless of the nature of the inquiry, the Chapter President should be considered the spokesman for the chapter. To best respond to any inquiries, it is important to keep the below factors in mind:
- Brothers contacted by a reporter (via phone, email or in-person) – inform the reporter your Chapter President is the spokesman for your chapter. Otherwise, do not respond to the inquiry.
- Also, do not give the reporter contact information for the President. You may offer to take the reporter’s name and contact information and give it to the President.
Chapter President
Before responding to any media inquiry, especially in response to a chapter or university incident, consult with your graduate advisor and contact Executive Director Rob Caudill (859-255-1848). If a statement to the media is appropriate, Rob will advise you how to best respond and will work with you and your local graduates to draft a statement (if appropriate).
If a reporter reaches you directly before you have an opportunity to speak with Rob, please take the reporter’s name and contact information and agree to call them back. Reporters generally understand that Chapter Presidents, similar to the leader of any organization, are not all-knowing and must seek additional details to respond appropriately.
By working with your graduate advisors and the Headquarters staff, Chapter Presidents and chapters can safely navigate the potentially challenging media waters. For additional information, read the Fraternity’s Incident Management Tips and Emergency Response Tips.
