The Chronicle

Issue date: 10/17/06 Section: News
Last update: 10/17/06 at 7:49 AM EST

Media Credit: Chronicle File photo Camera crews and TV trucks flooded Main West in the weeks following this spring's lacrosse scandal.

Media Credit: CHRONICLE file photo At the end of last spring, television trucks were a frequent sight on the quad of Main West Campus.

In response to the disruption caused by media presence on campus last spring, the University has revised its policies for media access to campus, the Office of News and Communications announced Friday.

Among the changes implemented, television crews must now request and gain permission from ONC or the Medical Center News Office before setting up cameras and broadcasting live from campus.

"We learned from the experience last spring," said David Jarmul, associate vice president of news and communication. "We're especially concerned about TV cameras, and students feeling like they couldn't walk across the quad without a camera stuck in their face."

The revised guidelines state that media will be required to park in designated areas and will not be allowed to enter residence halls except under rare circumstances with advance permission.

The University also reserves the right to grant broadcast media on-campus access only in designated areas, likely in a space between the Duke Chapel and the Bryan Center, Jarmul said.

John Burness, senior vice president for public affairs and government relations, said the revised guidelines extend some changes introduced in the spring and early fall, specifically during finals, commencement and this year's freshman orientation.

"It's really putting into policy what we were dealing with as a matter of practice," Burness said. "It's clear the policies did not work effectively."

The guidelines-which are part of a larger body of policies governing all news media activity-are not intended, however, to hinder news agencies from reporting on Duke's campus, which has historically been a campus open to media, Burness said.

"No one who wishes to talk to the media will be prohibited from doing so," he added.

Jarmul added that the previous long-standing policies had served the University well prior to the lacrosse incident but became inadequate when the situation garnered national attention. He said the changes were put into place in response to student complaints.

"We frankly didn't anticipate the kind of situation that we faced this past spring," he said.

"We can use the new guidelines to strike a balance between the openness with the news media and the reasonable expectation of privacy among Duke students and others in the Duke community," he added.

Jarmul said permission to broadcast live from campus will likely be granted routinely to news agencies, but there may be times when media access will need to be restricted.

Local news agencies that have broadcast live from campus in the past said the changes will likely not alter their coverage of on-campus issues.

"As far as I know, I don't think it really will affect us," said Tyree Barnette, weekday nightside assignment editor at News 14 Carolina. "We usually try to get private permission anyway.... At the very least we called the school as we got information about the ongoing case and told them we would be going live."

Burness added that the changes were not being implemented now specifically in anticipation of higher levels of media attention in the near future, though he said the University will "evoke the policy in a very common-sense way" if the lacrosse case goes to trial.

"So long as the lacrosse story continues, there is a possibility that the media interest on campus could ramp up again," Jarmul said.

"What we're saying with this policy is that when the situation warrants, we may take these steps," he added.

In addition to rules regulating broadcast media, guidelines have also been established in which print and radio media may also have limited access to campus, though generally they will not have to gain advance permission to report on campus.

In addition, all news media representatives must now obtain permission before entering classrooms, medical facilities or laboratories to report.

The policy also states The Chronicle may receive special access from ONC to information or events because of its unique role as a student-run newspaper.

Adam Eaglin contributed to this story.

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