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Lead updates media policy to designate city administrator, department heads and commissioners as spokespeople; publisher raises access concerns
Summary
The Lead commission approved an edit to the city’s media policy on Jan. 21 designating the city administrator, department heads and commissioners as authorized spokespeople. A regional publisher told the commission the change could slow reporters’ access to timely operational details.
The Lead City Commission on Jan. 21 approved edits to its media policy that designate the city administrator, department heads and members of the commission as the city’s authorized spokespeople.
Under the updated policy, media should be directed to the designated media contact or the city administrator; department heads may be authorized to speak to reporters when they "possess the most knowledge on the subject matter." The policy also allows the city administrator or department heads to permit other employees to speak to the media.
Mark Watson, head of the Black Hills Pioneer, said the change could slow reporters’ access to operational information. "You folks are not the guys on the ground. You're not the best person to talk to," Watson told the commission, arguing department staff are usually the quickest source for construction or public-works details.
Commissioners voted to approve the revised policy, including language naming department heads and the city administrator as media contacts.
