These regulations apply to all representatives of news media agencies and govern media access to students during instructional hours and/or school activities whether occurring on or off school grounds. These regulations do not apply to general media coverage of any events of public interest (such as an athletic event, lecture, school play, Board meetings, and the like) regardless of the time and location of such public interest events.

Authorization

All media representatives must report to the Main Office of the building to which access is requested in order to obtain authorization from the Building Principal or his/her designee for access to the building and/or to interview, photograph, or videotape District students.

Parental/guardian consent must be obtained prior to granting the media permission to interview students, or prior to the taking of photographs and/or videotapes (as well as subsequent publication) which would identify individual students or groups of students. Insuch instances, parents/guardians will be advised of the use and ultimate disposition of the interview, photograph and/or videotape to assist them in making their decision.

No special permission shall be required from media representatives prior to the publishing of news articles, taking of photographs and/or videotapes of general school events which are of public interest as noted above.

Prior to granting media access to individual students, the Principal or his/her designee shall be apprised of all information including, but not limited to, the date, location, purpose, and length of access time requested by the media representative. Where permission is granted, media representatives will be permitted access to the school building and/or students provided the presence of such representatives will not unduly disrupt the educational operations or instructional activities of the school.

If the student from whom information is sought by the media does not want to be interviewed, photographed and/or videotaped, or if the parent/guardian of the student denies permission for media access to his/her child, such access will be denied by the Building Principal/designee.

Time and Location of Access

Media access to students while on school grounds and/or at school related activities may be granted only during non-instructional hours or during non-instructional time periods for the students involved such as study halls and lunch periods.