UFHCC Communications will quickly vet the media request and assess it for possible sensitivities and conflicts. From there, we’ll help expedite and coordinate the actual interview, including media escort if necessary (see next question). We’ll also log the request in the media relations database and track the resulting clips. If necessary, we can also provide media training, advise regarding any HIPAA concerns, coordinate patient consent forms, etc.

UF Health policy, as informed by HIPAA, states that all members of the media need to be escorted by Communications personnel for the duration of their visit. Therefore, if the journalist is interviewing you in a place on campus frequented by/near patients — or if they need to pass through a place frequented by patients to find you, UFHCC Communications will need to escort them.

This is also the case if a journalist wants to speak to you or film in a lab space, due to UF Health policies regarding animal models, etc.

If a media escort is required, we’ll coordinate directly with the journalist. Usually, having a guide is beneficial to the journalist as well.

UFHCCC Communications frequently receives cancer-related media requests helps pair reporters with UF sources. If you would like to be included in our list of media-friendly experts for these occasions, please email communications@cancer.ufl.edu with topics you feel comfortable commenting on.

If you would like to pitch a story to the media (new research, patient case, first-in-Florida, etc.), please contact UFHCC Communications for assistance.

UFHCC Communications would be happy to assist with media training for all types of interviews — for print, video or radio, etc. and has resources to share.