Media, press, and journalists

A journalist has contacted you, what to do next?

• Report media requests to M&C

  Have you been approached by a journalist? Inform the department of Marketing & Communication (M&C). M&C:

  • Prioritizes media requests;
  • Assesses whether the request meets our criteria, such as reputation;
  • Searches for a suitable expert and discusses with them to cooperate or not;
  • Consults with the board regarding permission for video recordings;
  • If approved, notifies security about the photographer or camera crew. Note: Security only allows a photographer or camera crew in the building if they've been registered by M&C;
  • Advises on the privacy of patients, staff, and students during video/audio recordings;
  • Manages ACTA’s media (link: in Dutch) presence.

• Tips and tricks

  • Always inform M&C if you've been approached by the media.
    See also the heading: 'Report media requests to M&C.'
  • Ask about the purposes of the contact, so you're not caught off guard.
  • Stay within your own area of expertise and do not be tempted to make statements about other subjects.
  • Off the record: clearly state which of your statements are not allowed to use for publication, such as something discussed during a walk to your interview location.
  • Bring journalists and guests back tot reception desk after the interview, to prefend them from wandering around the building.
  • Always ask the journalist for permission to pre-read the article before publication. Check the text for factual inaccuracies or incomplete information; do not correct grammatical errors, as this is usually not appreciated.
  • Ensure that your position and title are correctly mentioned in the publication or broadcast.
  • Make sure that the journalist mentions ACTA in the publication or broadcast.
  • When you mention ACTA's collaboration, always name both faculties: Dentistry of the UvA and the VU.
  • Request a 'proof copy'. This can be a link to a magazine, online article, or television recording.
  • Afterwards, send a 'proof copy' to M&C.
  • If you have any questions or want to discuss how it went afterwards, feel free to contact the M&C department.

• Media training

  The press office at VU offers media training sessions (info only in Dutch). These are intended for researchers who appear in the media or wish to do so. Sign up and learn how to communicate clearly, maintain control during an interview, handle critical questions, and become more visible to media outlets.

  VU's social media team provides advice and sometimes training on the use of social media. Read more about social media at VU or send your questions about using social media to communicatie@acta.nl or social@vu.nl.