Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Media Relations topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissioners revisit county policy on employee interviews with media after Coeur d'Alene Press request
Summary
The board discussed how to handle media interview requests with county employees and said interviews are permissible with staff and that a commissioner may attend to ensure unified messaging; no policy changes were adopted.
The Kootenai County Board of Commissioners revisited its approach to media interviews with county employees on March 4 after staff reported inquiries from local media, including the Coeur d'Alene Press, about interviewing county transit staff.
At the meeting a commissioner said interviews with staff were acceptable and that an elected official could participate if desired to ensure consistent messaging. Other commissioners agreed staff should be allowed to speak with reporters, with the option for a commissioner to attend or be briefed. No change to written policy was adopted at the meeting; the board discussed ensuring a unified message and preserving the public’s access to information while recognizing elected officials’ role in public accountability.
Commissioners asked staff to continue following the county’s existing public-information and media policies and to coordinate with commissioners as appropriate when interviews concern high-profile or sensitive topics. The board did not direct staff to adopt new restrictions or require formal pre-approval for routine interviews.
