Handling a media enquiry

If your story is of interest to the media, they will contact you for further information, or to request an interview. The following tips can help you to handle a media enquiry efficiently:

• Be prompt. Always respond promptly to requests for further information - journalists work to very tight deadlines and will appreciate your co-operation.

• Make notes. Note down all of the relevant details including the journalist's name, which publication or radio/TV station they’re calling from, contact details and, most importantly, their deadline.

• Check your resources. Make sure that you or an appropriate colleague is able to provide the journalist with what they need before their deadline. If this is not going to be possible, let the journalist know immediately.

• Never say 'no comment' as this can sound as if you have something to hide even when you don't.

• Don't speculate. Remember that anything you say to a journalist may end up in print.

• Seek support. If the media enquiry is contentious or relates to the Aimhigher programme as a whole or to HEFCE or BIS policy, contact HEFCE on aimhigher@hefce.ac.uk to ascertain whether the response should be handled at a national level.