UM guidebook for media

When requesting an interview, please email the UM media relations team via mediarelations@umanitoba.ca. This is a shared email address monitored by Eleanor Coopsammy, Fiona Odlum, and other communications staff.

If you know the person you want to interview, you may email them directly, however, we would ask that you also cc: mediarelations@umanitoba.ca so that:

• We can assist should there be an booking issues or conflicts.
• We can let security know you’ll be on campus if you have confirmed an interview.
• We can suggest the best place to park or shoot the interview.

In some cases, if the interview is a few days away, we could try and arrange free parking on Fort Garry campus.

Interviewing a health expert

If your request is medical or health-related, please send your requests to Ilana Simon and her Rady Faculty of Health Sciences communications team via: radyfhscomm@umanitoba.ca, or you can reach Ilana directly at ilana.simon@umanitoba.ca.

IMPORTANT: UM focuses on health education, training and research. Media requests that concern delivery of health services or staffing are appropriately answered by health service providers such as Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA), which is focused on Winnipeg services. Provincial concerns and the city’s largest hospital (Health Sciences Centre) fall under provincial jurisdiction and should be directed to Shared Health. However, there may be academics who have strong opinions about certain issues.

Media are allowed on the University of Manitoba’s Fort Garry and Bannatyne campuses in public areas without requiring permission. However, prior notice of your presence is appreciated so we can make security aware ahead of time. Media are not allowed in classrooms, libraries, gyms, sports venues, labs, or offices without advance permission from media relations, professors, staff or coaches.

Filming in classrooms

We do not allow cameras in classrooms for privacy reasons. If you ask for consent from the professor, there is a power differential for students that is not a fair ask because they can't really say no if a professor agrees to having cameras in a classroom, so in general, we do not allow it.

There are exceptions. For example, we invite media to a UM lab to talk about a Cube Satellite going into space. Every student involved in that media advisory is aware the media is coming and chooses to be there.

• Media can interview UM experts in their office or off campus, arranged through the specific faculty member.
• Streeters outside of buildings are permitted in public areas (by bus loops, main thoroughfares).
• We suggest the interviewee remains in focus, while other students behind them are out of focus or rack focus.

• All media requests for the following individuals should be sent to: mediarelations@umanitoba.ca
  • President and Vice-Chancellor, Michael Benarroch
  • Provost and Vice-President (Academic), Diane Hiebert-Murphy
  • Vice-President (Administration), Naomi Andrew
     
• All requests for interviews with members from the Office of the Vice President (Indigenous) should be sent to Jenna Khan, communications lead for Indigenous Engagement and Communications: jenna.khan@umanitoba.ca
   
• All requests to speak with Indigenous staff, Elders and experts should be sent to mediarelations@umanitoba.ca

When it comes to important national dates, for example: National Indigenous Peoples Day, and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, please note that these requests need to be placed in advance (two weeks prior is recommended).

As these conversations require care, the University of Manitoba ensures we respect and honour Indigenous members as we commemorate these important days.

Much like how the media often treats war veterans and Remembrance Day, again, we ask that you have your interview requests in place well in advance. We will be unable to accommodate requests made the day of or even the day before.

Please note, UM hosts the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) however does not oversee media relations for NCTR.

All media requests for the NCTR should be sent to nctr@emdashagency.ca and Shasta Chartrand, Director of Communications and Digital Strategy at Shasta.Chartrand@umanitoba.ca.

Requests to speak with students

These requests are possible, but they do require more time and we need to be flexible with their schedules since their academic commitments take priority. Please send inquiries to mediarelations@umanitoba.ca

Requests to speak to student-athletes and coaches

These requests all go through Bison Sports. All inquiries relating to the Bisons should be sent to: Michael Still: michael.still@umanitoba.ca