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Conference 7.286::digital

Title:	The Digital way of working

Moderator:	QUARK::LIONELON

Created:	Fri Feb 14 1986
Last Modified:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	5321
Total number of notes:	139771

43.0. "Communication with the Press" by HUMAN::SZETO () Fri Jun 14 1985 21:29

  I have seen references in notes files here and there to a policy
  (should I say "alleged policy" if I haven't seen it?) which says that
  DEC employees are not to write letters to the editor or otherwise
  communicate with the press unless such communication has been approved
  by somebody or other.  Presumably this means that you are not to speak
  for DEC unless what you have to say has been reviewed by whomever.
  Common sense would say that I can speak for myself anytime I choose
  to, so long as I don't identify myself as a DEC employee.

  Can somebody locate this policy and either provide a pointer to it, or
  post it here?  If this is a bona fide policy, then more people should
  know about it.  If it's only hearsay, then we should know that too.

--Simon Szeto

T.R	Title	User	Date	Lines
43.1		NANOOK::STOREY	`Mon Jun 17 1985 23:11`	43
	Policies and Procedures in Section 6.28 does address Digital response to requests for information. The same wording is used in "Representing Digital: Field Guide to Business Conduct", a pamphlet distributed to the Digital Sales organization with the purpose of providing guidelines for doing business the Digital way. "Requests from the News Media and Local Community Officials for Information about the Company. Requests for general information about the company and its employees received form newspapers, television, industry publications, magazines, and local community officials should be directed to Corporate Public Relations." Policies and Procedures in Section 6.30 addresses The Publication Policy and perhaps answers Simon's questions. The Publication Policy reads in part: "It [the Publication Policy] does not apply to communications with the press (Electronic News, Boston Globe, Computer World, Computer Business Daily, etc). Press communications must be handled through Digital's Public Relations Department. Subject matter having nothing to do with Digital or its business interests need not adhere to this policy (e.g. article on fishing). [sic] Whenever an employee references Digital as part of their professional background, the employee should ensure that the publication clearly identifies that the individual is expressing the employee's own views and not those of Digital." In Southern New Hampshire, the Public Relations function is handled by Rona Zlokower's group in the Merrimack facility. Bill.
43.2		PEN::KALLIS	`Thu Oct 10 1985 15:14`	17
	To amplify: .0 is correct. As long as you're speaking as a private citizen and are not claiming to represent Digital, you are free to express your own opinion. If you're speaking for Digital, it has to be cleared. If you're speaking about some matter and you are identified as a Digi- tal employee (e.g., someone sees your badge or asks you where you work), any private opinion must be identified; i.e., you should make clear you're not representing the company in your answer to an inquiry ("Speaking for myself," may be enough). Steve Kallis, Jr. P.S.: Even when speaking for yourself, you have to be careful not to disclose sensitive information.