The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Board looks at media policy
By Dave Wak, Special Writer
PUBLISHED: March 6, 2008
Ypsilanti Township Trustee Stan Eldridge last week spoke with other board members over possibly adopting a unified media policy.
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Eldridge looked at the issue in response to instances of information being reported by the media by different sources at township hall, sometimes before officials were even aware of the story.
"Information went out that was a surprise (to township officials) or not accurate in its entirety," Eldridge said.
Eldridge said the township needed to find a way to get information to the media that was both accurate and timely.
Under Eldridge's proposal township employees, such as department heads, would run any media questions past a full-time official for review before answering them.
Eldridge stressed that this was not an attempt to stifle or filter information but to make sure media members got accurate information before they reported on it.
"It's not meant to prohibit any information to be released," Eldridge said.
Eldridge added that the policy did not prevent board members or employees from speaking their own views on an issue, but that they would be speaking as individuals.
Under the proposal, emergency officials, such as the fire chief, would be free to comment to the media on emergency situations without consulting a full time official
Eldridge said Township Treasurer Larry Doe should be the full-time official who reviewed media questions. He said Doe was a good choice because he had no statutory duties unlike the supervisor or the clerk, who run other departments.
However, Doe said he preferred that all three ful-time officials get together to review media questions before responding to them.
Trustee David Ostrowski said Eldridge should compare details of his proposal to suggestions from the Michigan Township Association guidelines on dealing with the media before finalizing his suggestions.
Township Clerk Brenda Stumbo said the idea was generally a good one. She said media sometimes received partial information and ran slanted or incomplete articles.
As an example, Stumbo cited a recent article and editorial in the Ann Arbor News about the "Town Center" shopping district on Huron Street. Stumbo said the article made it look like the township was competing with downtown Ypsilanti and said there was a negative reaction to township officials because of the article.
Township Supervisor Ruth Ann Jamnick said she was disappointed that Eldridge hadn't discussed the plan with her in more detail. She asked that he meet with her before he brings a more refined version of the proposal before the board, which he agreed to.
Dave Wak is an Ypsilanti resident and freelance writer for The Courier. He can be reached at dwak4@hotmail.com.
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