Media Guidelines for Visiting VCU and VCU Health System

By Anne Buckley

Virginia Commonwealth University Public Affairs periodically reminds members of the news media of the guidelines for reporting on VCU’s campuses and at the VCU Medical Center.

VCU welcomes news media to our campuses just as the public is welcome. But neither the public nor reporters have a right to indiscriminate access to VCU or VCU Health System buildings or other facilities. It is University Public Affairs’ policy to be as helpful as possible to news media seeking access to facilities while upholding the university’s mission of teaching, research and patient care, and maintaining the reasonable privacy expectation of students, faculty, staff, patients and others.

Guidelines are posted on the information for news media page: http://www.news.vcu.edu/media/

Media guidelines on the VCU Campus:

Because media presence and equipment may interfere with traffic or university activities, members of the media must seek permission from University Public Affairs to set up to videotape or broadcast live from campus and they must park in designated areas. Such permission generally will be granted for exterior work as long as it does not interfere with university operations. A representative from University Public Affairs must be present unless you are notified otherwise. Please note that sometimes VCU will limit television broadcasting to specific locations, like Monroe Park.

News media representatives must seek permission if they want to enter classrooms, medical facilities, laboratories or similar facilities for the purpose of reportage. Such permission generally will be facilitated as long as the reporting activities do not disrupt university activities; interfere with the privacy of students, patients, faculty or staff; or jeopardize the safety of university personnel, visitors or facilities. Residence halls are closed to news media except in rare cases with special advance arrangement.

Permission to shoot in interior spaces is required in all circumstances. This includes libraries, classrooms, dining areas, University Student Commons, administrative buildings, athletic facilities and laboratories.

Media guidelines at the VCU Medical Center

Public Affairs staff pays particular attention to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and other regulations involving patient confidentiality.

Media representatives MUST contact University Public Affairs, 828-1231, to request access to the hospital and patients. Access to patients is at the discretion of the VCU Medical Center.

Patients who agree to be interviewed on the hospital premises must provide prior written consent and an University Public Affairs representative must be present. Hospital security will remove unauthorized media personnel from the VCU Medical Center as necessary.

Live shots on the medical campus are restricted to 11th and Clay streets. Media will also be staged here during breaking news events.

Nomenclature/proper use of name

• The correct name of the hospital in all uses is the VCU Medical Center.
• The hospital is governed by the VCU Health System.
• Medical students are educated at the VCU School of Medicine.